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Cited by 592Planetary Science and ExplorationAstro and Planetary ScienceGeology and Paleoclimatology Research

The case for a wet, warm climate on early Mars

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Pollack, J.B., Kasting, J.F., Richardson, S.M., Poliakoff, K.·1987·Icarus
DOI 10.1016/0019-1035(87)90147-3
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Abstract

Theoretical arguments are presented in support of the idea that Mars possessed a dense CO2 atmosphere and a wet, warm climate early in its history. Calculations with a one-dimensional radiative-convective climate model indicate that CO2 pressures between 1 and 5 bars would have been required to keep the surface temperature above the freezing point of water early in the planet's history. The higher value corresponds to globally and orbitally averaged conditions and a 30% reduction in solar luminosity; the lower value corresponds to conditions at the equator during perihelion at times of high orbital eccentricity and the same reduced solar luminosity. The plausibility of such a CO2 greenhouse is tested by formulating a simple model of the CO2 geochemical cycle on early Mars. By appropriately scaling the rate of silicate weathering on present Earth, we estimate a weathering time constant of the order of several times 10(7) years for early Mars. Thus, a dense atmosphere could have persisted for a geologically significant time period (approximately 10(9) years) only if atmospheric CO2 was being continuously resupplied. The most likely mechanism by which this might have been accomplished is the thermal decomposition of carbonate rocks induced directly and indirectly (through burial) by intense, global-scale volcanism. For plausible values of the early heat flux, the recycling time constant is also of the order of several times 10(7) years. The amount of CO2 dissolved in standing bodies of water was probably small; thus, the total surficial CO2 inventory required to maintain these conditions was approximately 2 to 10 bars. The amount of CO2 in Mars' atmosphere would eventually have dwindled, and the climate cooled, as the planet's internal heat engine ran down. A test for this theory will be provided by spectroscopic searches for carbonates in Mars' crust.

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  • Surface carbonate formation should be very efficient on a warm and wet planet with a basaltic crust and CO2-rich atmosphere.

    “This is important, because surface carbonate formation should be very efficient on a warm and wet planet with a basaltic crust and CO 2 -rich atmosphere (Pollack et al. 1987).”

    From The Climate of Early Mars (2016) · cites this paper as Pollack et al. 1987

    The passage under “The Case for a Wet, Warm Climate on Early Mars” (page unavailable) links a wet, warm, CO₂-rich early Mars to silicate weathering and carbonate rocks. It does not specify a basaltic crust or say that surface carbonate formation would be very efficient. (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The thinning of Mars' possible early, thick atmosphere is thought to have occurred through the sequestering of CO2 into carbonates.

    “the thinning of Mars' possible early, thick atmosphere is thought to have occurred through the sequestering of CO₂ into carbonates [Fanale et al., 1982; Pollack et al., 1987]”

    From Thermal infrared emission spectroscopy of anhydrous carbonates (1997) · cites this paper as Pollack et al., 1987

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Authors
Pollack, J. B., Kasting, J. F., Richardson, S. M., & Poliakoff, K.
Affiliations
Ames Research Center (US)
ORCID
Kasting, J.F.
Venue
Icarus
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1987-08
Volume
71
Issue
2
Pages
203-224
ISSN
0019-1035 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0019-1035(87)90147-3
OpenAlex
W2073976878
Cited by
592
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 28
FWCI
21.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Icarus (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
  • NASA, Washington, Reports of Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, 1986
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Keywords
early Mars climate, greenhouse effect, orbital eccentricity, silicate weathering, carbonate weathering, surface temperature, Mars habitability
MeSH terms
Atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide, Carbonates, Climate, Extraterrestrial Environment, Geology, Humidity, Models, Theoretical, Temperature, Water, Greenhouse Effect, Mars, Exobiology, Geological Phenomena

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