[Previous] | [Session 38] | [Next]

[38.07] Melting Water Ice in the Martian Subsurface Near the Phoenix Landing Site: Results of a 1D Regolith Model

M.R.V. Sta. Maria (SETI Institute), F. Montmessin, R.M. Haberle (NASA-Ames Research Center), F. Forget (Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique), F. Han (Ecole Polytechnique)

The one-dimensional version of the NASA-Ames GCM is used to examine the possibility of ice melting in the subsurface during a recent time in Mars' history. The model employs a recently developed regolith model that simulates the evolution of ice, vapor and adsorbed water within the subsurface. In a way similar to previous studies that have been done for Martian gullies, we will conduct experiments with changes in slope angles and orientations in order to determine the optimal conditions required for melting water in the subsurface. The simulations will be concentrated on the proposed Phoenix landing site in order to find out if there ever were conditions conducive for liquid water in this area. Furthermore, we will focus on the more favorable solar conditions that prevailed 25 thousand years ago when northern summer coincided with perihelion.

[Previous] | [Session 38] | [Next]

Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.