A measurement of the 362 GHz absorption line of Mars atmospheric H 2O 2
Abstract
The 362.156 GHz absorption spectrum of H 2O 2 in the Mars atmosphere was observed on September 4 of 2003, employing the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) sub-millimeter facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Radiative transfer analysis of this line absorption yields an average volume mixing ratio of 18±0.4 ppbv within the lower (0-30 km) Mars atmosphere, in general accordance with standard photochemical models (e.g., Nair et al., 1994, Icarus 111, 124-150). Our derived H 2O 2 abundance is roughly three times greater than the upper limit retrieved by Encrenaz et al. (2002, Astron. Astrophys. 396, 1037-1044) from infrared spectroscopy, although part of this discrepancy may result from the different solar longitudes ( Ls) of observation. Aphelion-to-perihelion thermal forcing of the global Mars hygropause generates substantial (>200%) increases in HO x abundances above ∼10 km altitudes between the Ls=112° period of the Encrenaz et al. upper limit measurement and the current Ls=250° period of detection (Clancy and Nair, 1996, J. Geophys. Res. 101, 12785-12590). The observed H 2O 2 line absorption weakens arguments for non-standard homogeneous (Encrenaz et al., 2002, Astron. Astrophys. 396, 1037-1044) or heterogeneous (Krasnopolsky, 2003a, J. Geophys. Res. 108; 2003b, Icarus 165, 315-325) chemistry, which have been advocated partly on the basis of infrared (8 μm) non-detections for Mars H 2O 2. Observation of Mars H 2O 2 also represents the first measurement of a key catalytic specie in a planetary atmosphere other than our own.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.icarus.2003.12.003
- Bibcode:
- 2004Icar..168..116C