Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere: Difference between revisions
Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere (edit)
Revision as of 00:26, 23 September 2018
, 5 years ago→Humidity observations of the Mars atmosphere by Curiosity and Viking
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The humidity variations on Mars are mainly due to variations of temperature of the air, with colder air having a higher relative humidity for the same water content. The volume mixing ration of water vapour varies up to around 70 ppm, and is anti-correlated with the humidity, with the highest humidity at times of least VMR.
[[File:Curiosity humidity measurements.gif|Upper chart shows the humidity, lower chart shows the volume mixing ratio in parts per million, both measurements taken at the same time, height 1.6 meters above the ground]]
[[File:Curiosity temperature measurements.gif|Upper chart shows the average temperature, lower chart shows the range, the warm orange and red colours are Curiosity annual readings, the blue and green dcolours are for the Viking landers and the gray colours are for the Phoenix lander]]
Curiosity has measured relative humidity readings of up to 70% in winter, measured at a height of 1.6 meters above ground level (see Sect 14<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-017-0360-x#Sec14 Sec 14]</ref>. This is in winter with a temperature range of around 50 C and mean temperature around -63 C, so lowest temperature around -88 C (see their figure 5<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-017-0360-x#Fig5 Fig5]</ref>), and the highest humidity is normally reached between 04:00 and 06:00 LMST. The lowest humidity readings are between 10:00 and 18:000 LMST, when they are typically less than 5%
Curiosity hasn't directly observed the frosts that Viking observed at somewhat higher latitudes. But there is indirect evidence that frosts may form at times.
==Lichens relying on 75% night time humidity==
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