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Scientists have managed to analyze the atmospheric changes that occurred at the crust of Mars.
STATES CHRONICLE – The crust of Mars is thought to have influenced all the changes that occurred in time. If could be made possible, than scientists had reached the chance to analyze the atmospheric changes that appeared. The study was possible with the help of a rover which gathered Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM).
The main interest of the NASA’s scientists was to find out which is the balance between the chemical variations. Experts needed to study the ratios of the masses to be able to determine more details about the interaction of those elements in the past. The fundamental chemical interactions from the crust of Mars have modified the atmosphere’s chemical composition.
The Curiosity rover has collected information helpful to the measurements determined by the scientists. They have first focused on the presence of two particular gasses called krypton and xenon which compose Mars’ atmosphere. The mission conducted with the help of Curiosity robot achieved to assemble data regarding isotopes’ concentration of krypton and xenon. Xenon was discovered to have nine isotopes, allowing experts to look back at the planet’s history.
After several tests had been carried out, scientists unveiled that krypton and xenon isotopes were overabundant in the crust of Mars than on every other planet. Researchers believe that these gasses were released from the lithosphere of the Red Planet.
The barium atoms from the sedimentary rocks may have transported neutrons to xenon atoms after the cosmic rays hit the surface, thus developing xenon atoms later called xenon 126 and 124. A similar process happened when bromine atoms from the metamorphic rocks had transferred electrons to krypton, resulting krypton isotopes.
At a NASA’s press conference, the lead author of the study, Pamela Conrad asserted that the measurements that were provided reveal a complex process. The regolith and unbound material have contributed in a dynamic manner to the isotopic composition of krypton and xenon. Any impact with the crust of Mars will help at the release of the gasses’ isotopes into the Red Planet’s atmosphere.
When the rover conducted its test, the isotope values were other than researchers had expected, considering previous tests developed on the crust of Mars.
Based on other studies, do you believe that the chemical composition of Mars’ atmosphere was different in the past in such a way that life could have been sustained?
Image courtesy of: wikipedia
