Hydrated states of MgSO4 at equatorial latiudes on Mars

Geophysical Research Letters
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Abstract

The stability of water ice, epsomite, and hexahydrite to loss of H 2O molecules to the atmosphere at equatorial latitudes of Mars was studied to determine their potential contributions to the measured abundance of water-equivalent hydrogen (WEH). Calculation of the relative humidity based on estimates of yearly averages of water-vapor pressures and temperatures at the Martian surface was used for this purpose. Water ice was found to be sufficiently unstable everywhere within 45?? of the equator that if the observed WEH is due to water ice, it requires a low-permeability cover layer near the surface to isolate the water ice below from the atmosphere above. In contrast, epsomite or hexahydrite may be stable in many near-equatorial locations where significant amounts of WEH are observed. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Hydrated states of MgSO4 at equatorial latiudes on Mars
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/2004GL020181
Volume 31
Issue 16
Year Published 2004
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Geophysical Research Letters
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