Other
Scientific paper
Jan 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995phdt.........6g&link_type=abstract
Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 1995.Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-04, Section: B, page:
Other
Carbon Dioxide
Scientific paper
The most abundant hydrogen-oxygen-carbon gas species on Mars are water vapor (H_2O) and carbon dioxide (CO_2). The photochemistry initiated by the action of the solar ultraviolet radiation on these two species produces secondary constituents such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen peroxide (rm H_2O_2), atomic and molecular oxygen (O and O_2), ozone (O_3 ), atomic and molecular hydrogen (H and H _2), and radical species such as hydroperoxyl (HO_2) and hydroxyl (OH). Atmospheric processes redistribute the secondary species, and the airborne dust shields part of the solar flux to slow the photodissociation. The photochemical process is affected greatly by diurnal and seasonal variations. The classical models for CO _2 stability were recalculated and, the validation and problem in them are indicated. A more comprehensive and accurate one dimensional photochemical model, which also includes dust, updated parameters, coupled neutral and ion atmosphere and diurnal seasonal changes, has been developed in this work. The results from the globally averaged model of homogeneous gas phase chemistry show that CO_2 production rate exceeds its loss rate by 40 percent, which implies that there is a likelihood of contribution from other process for the stabilization of the atmosphere of Mars. The main mechanism for the CO_2 stability is believed to be a catalytic process that involves hydroxyls whose principal source is in the chemical reaction of rm O + HO_2 to OH + O_2. However, when diurnal and seasonal changes are taken into account, the photodissociation of hydrogen peroxide could become a major source of hydroxyl. This in turn results in a reduction in the imbalance between the production and loss of CO_2. The homogeneous gas phase photochemistry presented here goes a long way in resolving the classical problem of the stability of the Martian atmosphere. However, only further study involving measurements of key atmospheric species over a Martian year along with models that include atmospheric dynamics can finally lead to a full understanding of the stabilizing mechanisms of CO_2 atmosphere of Mars.
No associations
LandOfFree
Photochemical Stability of the Atmosphere of Mars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Photochemical Stability of the Atmosphere of Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photochemical Stability of the Atmosphere of Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-837166