Big tilt on Mars means big atmosphere

William Atkins
Friday, 22 April 2011 23:03

Science - Space

The NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has found an interesting piece of information about the planet Mars. Its atmosphere varies greatly depending on the constantly changing tilt of its axis: less tilt results in less atmosphere, and vice versa.

 

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used an onboard radio-wave instrument to identify the amount of frozen carbon dioxide buried under its surface and gaseous carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.

According to the April 21, 2011 NASA article 'NASA Spacecraft Reveals Dramatic Changes In Mars' Atmosphere', the varying amount of the Martian atmosphere affects the frequency and severity of dust storms on the planet and the amount of liquid water that might exist on its surface.

Basically, when the tilt of the planet's axis increases the mass of its atmosphere increases, too. This change of mass is primarily in the form of carbon dioxide. Mars' atmosphere is composed of about 95% carbon dioxide.

In fact, the American and Italian researchers using the data from NASA's MRO spacecraft found a new deposit of frozen carbon dioxide that has a volume similar to Lake Superior here on Earth - almost 3,000 cubic miles.

They wrote up their results in the journal Science under the title 'Massive CO2 Ice Deposits Sequestered in the South Polar Layered Deposits of Mars' (published online on April 21, 2011, DOI: 10.1126/science.1203091).

Dr. Roger J. Phillips, of the Planetary Science Directorate, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado, and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, led the research team.

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