Hydrogen isotope evidence for loss of water from Mars through time

Details Hydrogen isotope evidence for loss of water from Mars through time Hydrogen isotope evidence for loss of water from Mars through time

Mar 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008georl..3505203g&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 35, Issue 5, CiteID L05203

Physics

10

Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Mars, Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Meteorites And Tektites (1028, 3662), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Atmospheres (0343, 1060), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Origin And Evolution

Scientific paper

The high D/H of the Martian atmosphere (~5-6 × terrestrial) is considered strong evidence for the loss of Martian water to space. The timing and magnitude of the loss of water from Mars can be constrained by measurements of D/H in Martian meteorites. Previous studies of Martian meteorites have shown a large range in D/H, from terrestrial values to as high as the current Martian atmosphere. Here we show that the ancient (~4 Ga) Mars meteorite ALH84001 has a D/H 4 × terrestrial and that the young (~0.17 Ga) Shergotty meteorite has a D/H 5.6 × terrestrial. We also find that the young Los Angeles shergottite has zoning in D/H that can be correlated to igneous growth zoning, strongly suggesting assimilation of D-enriched water during igneous crystallization near the Martian surface. In contrast to previous studies, we find higher and less variable D/H ratios in these three meteorites. Our results suggest a two-stage evolution for Martian water-a significant early loss of water to space (prior to 3.9 Ga) followed by only modest loss to space in the last 4 billion years. The current Martian atmospheric D/H has remained essentially unchanged for the last 165 Ma.

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