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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation

Published on: June 28, 2015

Martian atmospheric erosion rates.

Stas Barabash¹, Andrei Fedorov, Rickard Lundin

¹Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 812, 98128 Kiruna, Sweden. stas@irf.se

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|January 27, 2007

Summary

Mars lost its ancient carbon dioxide atmosphere to space. Current solar wind interactions reveal low escape rates, suggesting significant water and carbon dioxide may still exist below the Martian surface.

Area of Science:

Planetary Science
Atmospheric Science
Astrobiology

Background:

Mars transitioned from a potentially habitable wet environment to its current arid state.
Understanding the loss of Mars's early carbon dioxide atmosphere is crucial for planetary evolution studies.

Purpose of the Study:

Quantify the current atmospheric escape rates of key species from Mars.
Estimate the total atmospheric loss over geological timescales.
Investigate the implications for the planet's ancient climate and potential habitability.

Main Methods:

Measured ion escape rates (O+, O2+, CO2+) due to solar wind interactions.
Extrapolated current escape rates over 3.5 billion years.
Analyzed energy ranges from 30 to 30,000 eV/charge.

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Published on: June 8, 2015

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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation

Published on: June 28, 2015

Visualization of High Speed Liquid Jet Impaction on a Moving Surface

Visualization of High Speed Liquid Jet Impaction on a Moving Surface

Published on: April 17, 2015

Exploring the Effects of Atmospheric Forcings on Evaporation: Experimental Integration of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface

Exploring the Effects of Atmospheric Forcings on Evaporation: Experimental Integration of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface

Published on: June 8, 2015

Main Results:

Current escape rates: O+ (1.6x10^23/s, 4 g/s), O2+ (1.5x10^23/s, 8 g/s), CO2+ (8.10^22/s, 6 g/s).
Estimated total removal of 0.2-4 millibar of CO2 and a few centimeters of water over 3.5 billion years.
The overall atmospheric escape rate is determined to be low.

Conclusions:

The low calculated atmospheric loss suggests that substantial reservoirs of water and carbon dioxide may persist beneath the Martian surface.
Further research is needed to explore subsurface reservoirs and other atmospheric escape mechanisms.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about the complete loss of Mars's early atmosphere.