2011
DOI: 10.1126/science.1203091
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Abstract: Shallow Radar soundings from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal a buried deposit of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) ice within the south polar layered deposits of Mars with a volume of 9500 to 12,500 cubic kilometers, about 30 times that previously estimated for the south pole residual cap. The deposit occurs within a stratigraphic unit that is uniquely marked by collapse features and other evidence of interior CO(2) volatile release. If released into the atmosphere at times of high obliquity, the CO(2) reservoir w… Show more

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Cited by 237 publications
(207 citation statements)
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“…At obliquities greater than the present 25° to 50°, atmospheric density is predicted to increase due to release of CO 2 from polar cap sublimation and regolith desorption, resulting in pressures of 10-15 mbar compared to the current ~6 mbar (Kieffer and Zent, 1992;Phillips et al, 2011). Obliquity oscillates at a frequency of ~10 5 yr.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…At obliquities greater than the present 25° to 50°, atmospheric density is predicted to increase due to release of CO 2 from polar cap sublimation and regolith desorption, resulting in pressures of 10-15 mbar compared to the current ~6 mbar (Kieffer and Zent, 1992;Phillips et al, 2011). Obliquity oscillates at a frequency of ~10 5 yr.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…[29] Recent work [Phillips et al, 2011] demonstrated the existence of a large CO 2 reservoir within the SPLD, associated with a reflection free zone observed by the SHARAD radar sounder. This CO 2 ice layer has a maximum thickness of $672 m, with a mean of $200 m (r co2 = 1589 kg/m 3 ).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The south polar layered deposits (SPLD) are highly asymmetric with a volume estimated to be 1.6 Â 10 6 km 3 and the thickest part about 3.7 km [Plaut et al, 2007]. Many previous researchers suggested that the SPLD is primarily composed of water-ice, with central, thin CO 2 cover [Byrne and Ingersoll, 2003;Titus et al, 2003;Bibring et al, 2004;Plaut et al, 2007], though more recent work has uncovered evidence for massive CO 2 ice deposits within some portions of the SPLD [Phillips et al, 2011]. By examining the stratigraphy exposed on scarp walls from THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System on board Mars Odyssey) visible images, Milkovich and Plaut [2008] inferred that the SPLD is composed of three main sequences of deposit layers, corresponding to three different geologic periods.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Primarily these changes are brought about by increased sublimation of the polar caps (which receive more insolation at higher obliquity), increasing the overall atmospheric pressure and humidity (Madeleine et al 2014). This effect could be further enhanced by release of the CO 2 currently trapped within the south polar cap, which could increase the atmospheric density by 4-5 mbar, which could have happened as recently as 600 ka (Phillips et al 2011). Such atmospheric pressures would not be enough to make water stable but increase the spatial and temporal extent of transient liquid water.…”
Section: Implication For Martian Landscape Studiesmentioning
confidence: 99%