It became known, what happened to the Martian atmosphere

Almost all of the atmosphere of Mars was to pull into space

A new analysis that combines data from the space probe Maven and the Curiosity Rover suggests that Mars probably once was the atmosphere.

Martian air is likely to contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide. It was important for the climate because greenhouse gas may be able to create a comfortable environment to support the emerging life forms.

“We are still in the process of tallying the data, but I think that the atmosphere of Mars was thicker than earth’s. Its main mass, of about 80-90% was subsequently to pull into the space,” said Bruce Jakosky from the University of Colorado, principal investigator of the Mars atmosphere in the space Agency USA (NASA).

Since arriving in orbit of the red planet in 2014, the satellite Maven is studying the composition of the upper atmosphere of Mars. And in the new work, recently published in the journal Science, examined in detail the properties of the noble gas argon, contained in a small amount, just several parts per million, in the remains of Mars ‘ atmosphere. Argon is inert, it does not react with other components of the atmosphere, the air of Mars to go anywhere he couldn’t, only if you did not pull in space under the influence of solar wind, wave-like flow of charged particles that constantly flows from the Sun.

Scientists have calculated how much of the argon was removed from the atmosphere of Mars for 4.5 billion, based on the ratio of heavy and light isotopes of argon. Professor Jakosky and his team used the relative number of atoms of argon-36 and argon-38 in the upper atmosphere and on the surface — to estimate the fraction of gas which has disappeared over time.

“Measurements showed that about two-thirds of the argon atmosphere was lost in space, and therefore most of the remaining gases in the atmosphere has also been lost,” explained Professor Jakosky.

The findings of the study are important because they explain how Mars was holding on its surface liquid water. Today thin atmosphere of Mars does not create enough pressure for water retention.

paradox