Publication Abstracts

Durham et al. 1989

Durham, R., R.B. Schmunk, and J.W. Chamberlain, 1989: Comparative analysis of the atmospheres of early Earth and early Mars. Adv. Space Res., 9, 139-142, doi:10.1016/0273-1177(89)90219-6.

A surface partial pressure of CO2 of at least 1.3 bars is required in order to sustain liquid water on Mars. We assume that the primitive atmospheres of Mars and Earth were similar and that present differences are a result of their different distances from the Sun and their different masses. We then use a one-dimensional radiative-convective atmospheric model to determine if a 1.3 bar CO2 partial pressure on Mars is consistent with the climatic conditions thought to have existed on Earth four billion years ago. The Earth atmosphere was evidently then stable against a runaway greenhouse, so that huge amounts of liquid water could accumulate on the surface. We find that these terrestrial codnitions are consistent with a high CO2 partial pressure on Mars, which produces liquid water at perihelion if not during the entire orbit.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{du00100w,
  author={Durham, R. and Schmunk, R. B. and Chamberlain, J. W.},
  title={Comparative analysis of the atmospheres of early Earth and early Mars},
  year={1989},
  journal={Adv. Space Res.},
  volume={9},
  pages={139--142},
  doi={10.1016/0273-1177(89)90219-6},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - CPAPER
ID  - du00100w
AU  - Durham, R.
AU  - Schmunk, R. B.
AU  - Chamberlain, J. W.
PY  - 1989
TI  - Comparative analysis of the atmospheres of early Earth and early Mars
JA  - Adv. Space Res.
VL  - 9
SP  - 139
EP  - 142
DO  - 10.1016/0273-1177(89)90219-6
ER  -

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