The first halogen gas on Mars has been detected that sheds new light on the history of the Red Planet.
The ESA Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spacecraft detected hydrogen chloride, which consists of one hydrogen atom and one chlorine atom.
Gases based on chlorine or sulfur are possible indicators of volcanic activity, which Mars scientists have already wanted to discover, but the new discovery has some strange properties.
The fact that this particular discovery was made at the same time in distant places, without any other gases that can be expected from the volcanoes of Mars, means that an unknown process takes place between the surface of the planet and its atmosphere.
Scientists suggest that salt – the remnants of Martian oceans – is lifted into the atmosphere by winds. Sunlight warms the atmosphere and allows dust and water vapor to rise. These two components reach each other to release chlorine, which eventually produces hydrogen chlorine.
“The discovery of the first new trace gas in the atmosphere of Mars is a major milestone for the Trace Gas Orbiter mission,” said Håkan Svedhem, ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter project scientist, in a statement.
“This is the first new class of gas discovered since ESA’s alleged observation of methane by Mars Express in 2004, which motivated the search for other organic molecules and ultimately led to the development of the Trace Gas Orbiter mission, for which the detection of new gases is necessary. a primary purpose. ”
To understand these processes in more detail – on a planet 194.65 million kilometers away – it is essential to understand how the Martian climate evolved, especially since the cycle is as numerous as that on Earth.
“The changing seasons on Mars, and especially the relatively hot summer in the southern hemisphere, seem to be the driving force for our new observations, such as the increased atmospheric water loss and the dust activity associated with the detection of hydrogen chloride. in the two most recent studies, ”adds Håkan.
“Observations through trace gas orbits enable us to explore the Martian atmosphere like never before.”
Scientists can also measure water vapor and ‘semi-heavy’ water – this is when a hydrogen atom in the compound is replaced by a deuterium atom.
“The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen, D / H, is our chronometer – a powerful measure that tells us about the history of water on Mars, and how water loss has evolved over time,” said Geronimo Villanueva of Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight. Center said.
These developments can now be measured in more detail than was previously done. “It’s like we just had a 2D view before, and now we can explore the atmosphere in 3D,” said Ann Carine Vandaele, lead researcher on the Nadir and Occultation for Mars Discovery (NOMAD) tool used for this study. is, said.
Recently, another investigation was sent to our nearest planetary neighbor to study the area.
The United Arab Emirates’ Hope probe mission successfully completed a challenging maneuver that allowed the probe to fly into space to enter orbit Mars.