Incorporation of argon, krypton and xenon into clathrates on Mars

Calculations of the trapping of heavy noble gases within multiple guest clathrates under Mars-like conditions show that a substantial fraction of the martian Xe, perhaps even the vast majority, could be in clathrates. In addition, the Xe/Kr ratio in the clathrates would probably be much higher than...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962) N.Y. 1962), 2009-09, Vol.203 (1), p.66-70
Main Authors: Swindle, Timothy D., Thomas, Caroline, Mousis, Olivier, Lunine, Jonathan I., Picaud, Sylvain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundances
Astronomy
Astrophysics
atmosphere
atmospheres
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Ices
Mars
Physics
polar caps
Solar system
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Summary:Calculations of the trapping of heavy noble gases within multiple guest clathrates under Mars-like conditions show that a substantial fraction of the martian Xe, perhaps even the vast majority, could be in clathrates. In addition, the Xe/Kr ratio in the clathrates would probably be much higher than in the atmosphere, so the formation or dissociation of a relatively small amount of clathrate could measurably change the atmospheric ratio. Relatively crude (factor of 2) measurements of the seasonal variability in that ratio by in situ spacecraft would be sensitive to ∼10% of the seasonal atmospheric CO 2 variability being a result of clathrates, rather than pure CO 2 frost. In addition, sequestration of Xe in clathrates remains a viable mechanism for explaining the variable Xe/Kr ratios seen in different suites of martian meteorites.
ISSN:0019-1035
1090-2643
DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.004