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The Search for Water and Life on Mars: Evidence and Exploration

Delve into the intriguing quest for water and life on Mars, exploring detection methods, Martian meteorites, methane presence, and potential microbial activity. Learn about the history of water on Mars and the tools used in space exploration.

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The Search for Water and Life on Mars: Evidence and Exploration

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  1. ASTR/GEOL-2040: Search for life in the Universe: Lecture 21 • Water on Mars • Detection method • The eons of Mars Axel Brandenburg (Office hours: Mondays 2:30 – 3:30 in X590 and Wednesdays 11-12 in D230)

  2. Martian life claims: 3 categoroies • Viking 1+2 landers • Microbes in the soil perform metabolism on supplied organics • Methane in martian atmosphere • Methanogenes? • Martian meteorites • Fossil evidence

  3. Martian life claims: 3 categoroies • Viking 1+2 landers • Microbes in the soil perform metabolism on supplied organics • Methane in martian atmosphere • Methanogenes? • Martian meteorites • Fossil evidence

  4. …where has all the water gone? Burns Cliff (Endurace Crater) Layering: shallow ground water Opportunity Dec 2004

  5. Modern topographic map of Mars • xx Opportunity: not even in a deep spot

  6. Dust storm • Predictable • Phoenix observed precipitation • But evaporated before reaching ground 2012 November 18

  7. Detecting water from space • Gamma ray spectrometer • Use ”illumination” by cosmic rays • ”fast” neutrons from collisions • Excite atoms  unique signature • Observed hydrogen • Most of it is in H2O

  8. Dust storm (energy depends on atom) • Predictable • Phoenix observed precipitation • But evaporated before reaching ground (protons) best with water (Proton similar mass) 2012 November 18

  9. Where is presently most of the H2O? • At high latitudes • At mid latitudes • Near the equator

  10. Dust storm • Predictable • Phoenix observed precipitation • But evaporated before reaching ground 2012 November 18

  11. Where is most of the water? • At high latitudes • At mid latitudes • Near the equator

  12. Low latitude H2O patches Elysium, Terra Sabaea, Terra Sirenum(proximity to volcanoes: increased melt) Terra Sabaea 2012 November 18

  13. Valley networks (~4 Gyr old)

  14. outflow channels (~3 Gyr old)

  15. Modern topographic map of Mars • xx

  16. outflow channels are mainly associated with… • Massive events clearly associated with volcanic events Volcanoes!

  17. So what does g ray spectrometer observe? • g rays • fast neutrons • thermal (slow) neutrons

  18. So what does g ray spectrometer observe? • g rays • fast neutrons • thermal (slow) neutrons

  19. Eonson Earth • … • Hadean (3.8 – 4.6 Gyr) • Archean (2.5 – 3.8 Gyr) • Proterozoic (0.55 – 2.5 Gyr) • Phanerozoic

  20. Different eons for Martians • … • Noachian (3.7 – 4.1 Gyr, warm & wet) • Hesperian (3 – 3.7 Gyr, volcanoes, acidic) • Amazonian (0 – 3 Gyr, cold, hyperarid)

  21. What’s different btw the 3 . Noachis Terra Hesperia Planum Terra Sabaea • Craters • Volcanos • Elevation • Latitude

  22. Amazonis Planitia . Terra Sabaea 2012 November 18

  23. Amazonis Planitia . Hesperia Planum = Land to the West Terra Sabaea 2012 November 18

  24. Schiaparelli (1899) • xx

  25. Amazonis Planitia . Hesperia = Land to the West Noachis Terra = Land to the Noah Terra Sabaea 2012 November 18

  26. There can be different ones • … • Phyllocias = phyllosilicates • Theriikian = sulphurous • Siderikan = iron

  27. Sedimentary rock rare • Igneous

  28. Carbonates rare: 2 – 5 wt% • wt% = percentage by weight • Evidence of wet & warm past • Why only 2 – 5 wt% ? • Earth: 10% of sedimentary rocks are limestone • Mars: no time to form? • No: became acidic 3 Gyr ago (sulfate-rich) Lon 272

  29. They got the idea from the Moon • …

  30. Monday • Atmospheric escape • Methane • Meteorites • RGS pp. 109 – 119

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