Early Mars: How Warm and How Wet?
Abstract
Early in its history, Mars underwent fluvial erosion that has been interpreted as evidence for a warmer, wetter climate. However, no atmosphere composed of only CO2 and H2O appears capable of producing mean planetary temperatures even close to 0 degrees C. Rather than by precipitation, aquifer recharge and ground water seepage may have been enabled by hydrothermal convection driven by geothermal heat and heat associated with impacts. Some climatic warming was probably necessary to allow water to flow for long distances across the surface. Modest warming could be provided by even a low-pressure CO2 atmosphere if it was supplemented with small amounts of CH4, NH3, or SO2. Episodic excursions to high obliquities may also have raised temperatures over some portions of the planet's surface.
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The dendritic geomorphology of Martian valley networks strongly suggests an origin due to a hydrological cycle driven by precipitation as rain or snow rather than groundwater sapping or basal melting of thick ice sheets.
“This geomorphology strongly suggests an origin due to a hydrological cycle driven by precipitation (as rain or snow) (Craddock & Howard 2002; Mangold et al. 2004; Stepinski &Stepinski 2005; Barnhart, Howard & Moore 2009; Hynek, Beach & Hoke 2010; Matsubara, Howard & Gochenour 2013) rather than e.g., groundwater sapping (Squyres & Kasting 1994) or basal melting of thick icesheets (Carr & Head 2003)”
From The Climate of Early Mars (2016) · cites this paper as Squyres & Kasting 1994
Cites
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Self-citationThe Early Faint Sun Paradox: Organic Shielding of Ultraviolet-Labile Greenhouse Gases
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“…Stepinski 2005; Barnhart, Howard & Moore 2009; Hynek, Beach & Hoke 2010; Matsubara, Howard & Gochenour 2013) rather than e.g., groundwater sapping (Squyres & Kasting 1994) or basal melting of thick icesheets (Carr & Head 2003). www.annualreviews.org • The Climate of Early Mars 3 Valley networks…”
BackgroundModelling the surface and subsurface Martian radiation environment: Implications for astrobiology
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- Authors
- Squyres, S. W., & Kasting, J. F.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- ORCID
- Kasting, James F.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1994-08-05
- Volume
- 265
- Issue
- 5173
- Pages
- 744-749
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2094017836
- Cited by
- 275
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 13.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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, fluvial erosion, groundwater recharge, groundwater seepage, hydrothermal convection, geothermal heat, impact heating, CO2 atmosphere, methane, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, obliquity, planetary temperature, paleoclimate
- MeSH terms
- Ammonia, Atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide, Climate, Geology, Methane, Sulfur Dioxide, Sunlight, Water, Greenhouse Effect, Mars, Exobiology, Meteoroids, Evolution, Planetary, Geological Phenomena
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