Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere: Difference between revisions
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Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere (edit)
Revision as of 14:06, 25 March 2019
, 5 years ago→Surface high relative humidity observations of the Mars atmosphere by Curiosity and indirectly by Viking
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This section is based on the survey article by Martinez et al, "The modern near-surface martian climate: A review of in-situ meteorological data from Viking to Curiosity."<ref name=Martínez2017>Martínez, G. M., C. N. Newman, A. De Vicente-Retortillo, E. Fischer, N. O. Renno, M. I. Richardson, A. G. Fairén et al. [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-017-0360-x "The modern near-surface martian climate: A review of in-situ meteorological data from Viking to Curiosity."] Space Science Reviews 212, no. 1-2 (2017): 295-338.</ref>
In short, Curiosity measured humidity directly 70% humidity at a height of 1.6 meters above ground level in winter, ground temperature
The humidity variations on Mars are mainly due to the daily and seasonal variations of temperature of the air. Colder air has a higher relative humidity for the same water content.
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So, it's 10ppm (approx) for 70% RH in winter, and 70 ppm for 10% RH in summer (by a strange coincidence the numbers are reversed).
Curosity made these mesaurements of 70% humidity 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 highest temperature around -38 C and 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 Local Mean Solar Time (LMST)
The Viking landers didn't have humidity sensors. But the humidity can be estimated indirectly, with maximum
The Viking 2 observed frosts for 250 sols of the year (frost usually suggests a high relative humidity close to 100%).
Viking 1 and Curiosity didn't observe them directly. But there is indirect evidence that frosts may form at times at lower latitudes, including imaging of mists in the Valles Marineres, and possible observation of frost on the deck and calibration target of Opportunity.
== See also==
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