Is there oxygen in the atmosphere of Mars? NASA proposes to restore the atmosphere of Mars using a magnetic shield

Getting to know any planet begins with its atmosphere. She envelops cosmic body and protects him from external influences. If the atmosphere is very rarefied, then such protection is extremely weak, but if it is dense, then the planet is in it like in a cocoon - the Earth can serve as an example. However, such an example is isolated in the solar system and does not apply to other terrestrial planets.

Therefore, the atmosphere of Mars (the red planet) is extremely rarefied. Its approximate thickness does not exceed 110 km, and its density in comparison with the earth’s atmosphere is only 1%. In addition to this, the red planet has an extremely weak and unstable magnetic field. As a result, the solar wind invades Mars and disperses atmospheric gases. As a result, the planet loses from 200 to 300 tons of gases per day. It all depends on solar activity and from the distance to the star.

From here it is not difficult to understand why the atmospheric pressure is very low. At sea level it is 160 times less than on Earth. On volcanic peaks it is 1 mm Hg. Art. And in deep depressions its value reaches 6 mm Hg. Art. average value on the surface is 4.6 mm Hg. Art. The same pressure is recorded in the earth's atmosphere at an altitude of 30 km from the earth's surface. With such values, water cannot liquid state be present on the red planet.

In the atmosphere of Mars carbon dioxide contains 95%. That is, we can say that he occupies a dominant position. In second place is nitrogen. It accounts for almost 2.7%. The third place is occupied by argon - 1.6%. And oxygen is in fourth place - 0.16%. Carbon monoxide, water vapor, neon, krypton, xenon, and ozone are also present in small quantities.

The composition of the atmosphere is such that it is impossible for people to breathe on Mars. You can only move around the planet in a spacesuit. At the same time, it should be noted that all gases are chemically inert and not a single one of them is poisonous. If the surface pressure was at least 260 mm Hg. Art., then it would be possible to move along it without a spacesuit in ordinary clothes, having only a breathing apparatus.

Some experts believe that several billion years ago the atmosphere of Mars was much denser and high content oxygen. On the surface there were rivers and lakes of water. This is indicated by numerous natural formations that resemble dry river beds. Their age is estimated at about 4 billion years.

Due to the high rarefaction of the atmosphere, the temperature on the red planet is characterized by high instability. There are sharp daily fluctuations, as well as high temperature differences depending on latitudes. The average temperature is -53 degrees Celsius. In summer at the equator the average temperature is 0 degrees Celsius. At the same time, it can fluctuate daytime from +30 to –60 at night. But temperature records are being observed at the poles. There the temperature can drop to -150 degrees Celsius.

Despite the low density, winds, tornadoes, and storms are often observed in the atmosphere of Mars. Wind speed reaches 400 km/h. It raises pink Martian dust, and it covers the surface of the planet from the prying eyes of people.

It must be said that although the Martian atmosphere is weak, it has enough strength to resist meteorites. Uninvited guests from space, falling to the surface, they partially burn up, and therefore there are not so many craters on Mars. Small meteorites burn up completely in the atmosphere and do not cause any harm to the Earth's neighbor.

Vladislav Ivanov

Mars, like Venus, are Earth-like planets. They have a lot in common, but there are also differences. Scientists do not lose hope of finding life on Mars, as well as terraforming this “relative” of the Earth, albeit in the distant future. For the Red Planet this task seems simpler than for Venus. Unfortunately, Mars has a very weak magnetic field, which complicates the situation. The fact is that due to the almost complete absence magnetic field the solar wind has a very strong influence on the planet's atmosphere. It causes dissipation atmospheric gases, so about 300 tons of atmospheric gases escape into space per day.

According to experts, it was the solar wind that caused the dispersion of about 90% of the Martian atmosphere over billions of years. As a result, the pressure at the surface of Mars is 0.7-1.155 kPa (1/110 of the Earth’s, such pressure on Earth can be seen by rising to a height of thirty kilometers from the surface).

The atmosphere on Mars consists mainly of carbon dioxide (95%) with small admixtures of nitrogen, argon, oxygen and some other gases. Unfortunately, the pressure and composition of the atmosphere on the Red Planet makes it impossible for terrestrial living organisms to breathe on the Red Planet. Probably, some microscopic organisms will be able to survive, but they will not be able to feel comfortable in such conditions.

The composition of the atmosphere is not such a problem. If the atmospheric pressure on Mars were half or a third of that on Earth, then colonists or marsonauts would be able to stay in certain time days and years on the surface of the planet without spacesuits, using only a breathing apparatus. Many terrestrial organisms would feel more comfortable on Mars.

NASA believes that it is possible to increase the atmospheric pressure on Earth's neighbor by protecting Mars from the solar wind. This protection is provided by a magnetic field. On Earth it exists thanks to the so-called hydrodynamic dynamo mechanism. In the liquid core of the planet, flows of an electrically conductive substance (molten iron) constantly circulate, due to which they are excited electric currents, which create magnetic fields. Internal flows in the earth's core are asymmetrical, which causes an increase in the magnetic field. The Earth's magnetosphere reliably protects the atmosphere from “blowing out” solar wind.

The dipole, according to the calculations of the authors of the project to create a magnetic shield for Mars, will generate a sufficiently strong magnetic field that will not allow the solar wind to reach the planet

Unfortunately for humans, there is no constant powerful magnetic field on Mars (and Venus), only weak traces are recorded. Thanks to Mars Global Surveyor, it was possible to discover magnetic substance under the crust of Mars. NASA believes that these anomalies were formed under the influence of once magnetic core and saved magnetic properties even after the planet itself lost its field.

Where to get a magnetic shield

Director scientific department NASA Jim Green believes that the natural magnetic field of Mars cannot be restored, at least not now or even in the very distant future. But it is possible to create an artificial field. True, not on Mars itself, but next to it. Speaking with the report “The Future environment Mars for Research and Science” at the Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop event, Green proposed creating a magnetic shield. This shield, Mars L1, according to the authors of the project, will close Mars from the solar wind, and the planet will begin to restore its atmosphere. It is planned to place the shield between Mars and the Sun, where it would be in a stable orbit. It is planned to create the field using a huge dipole or two equal and oppositely charged magnets.

NASA diagram shows how a magnetic shield would protect Mars from solar wind

The authors of the idea created several simulation models, each of which showed that after the launch of the magnetic shield, the pressure on Mars would reach half that of Earth. In particular, carbon dioxide at the poles of Mars will evaporate, turning into gas from the solid phase. Will reveal itself over time Greenhouse effect, Mars will begin to warm up, the ice that is close to the surface of the planet in many places will melt and the planet will be covered with water. It is believed that such conditions existed on Mars about 3.5 billion years ago.

Of course this is not a project today, but perhaps in the next century people will be able to realize this idea and terraform Mars, creating a second home for themselves.

Atmosphere of Mars, like the atmosphere of Venus, mainly consists of carbon dioxide, although it is much thinner. After the discovery of methane in 2003, atmospheric research resumed with great excitement. The presence of methane may indirectly indicate the presence of life on Mars, although it is more likely that these are traces of the planet’s volcanic or hydrothermal activity.

The atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide, 2.1% argon and 1.9% nitrogen. Traces of oxygen, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and small amounts of water vapor in the form of cold clouds were also found. The concentration of carbon dioxide on Mars is 23 times higher than on Earth. This makes it impossible for any life to exist on Mars. At least the life to which we are all accustomed on our native Earth.

Composition of the atmosphere of Mars.

The composition of the atmosphere, as well as its mass, fluctuates greatly during the Martian year. in winter most of carbon dioxide condenses in the polar caps, so the atmosphere becomes thinner. In summer, this part evaporates, and the density of the atmosphere increases.

But in both winter and summer, the density of the atmosphere is not so high as to smooth out temperature fluctuations. During one Martian day, temperature jumps exceed 100 o C. During the day it rises to +30 o C, and at night it drops to -80 o C. At the poles minimum temperature drops even lower, to -150 o C.

Atmosphere pressure on Mars is 600 Pa. For comparison, on Earth the atmospheric pressure is 101 Pa, and on Venus a huge 9.3 MPa. On the Olympus volcano, the most high point on Mars, the atmospheric pressure is a measly 30 Pa. And at the deepest point of the planet, in the Hellas Plain, it reaches 1155 Pa.

Observations by the Mars Exploration Rover from the surface of Mars showed that despite the thin atmosphere, the air is quite dusty. The Martian sky is constantly colored with light brown and Orange color. Suspended particles of sand and dust rise to a height of 1.5 km. above the surface of the planet and due to low pressure settle for quite a long time.

History of the atmosphere

Scientists believe that the atmosphere of Mars has changed over the life of the planet. There is evidence that the planet had huge oceans several billion years ago. But at present, water can only exist in the form of steam or ice. Firstly, atmospheric pressure is capable of “holding” water in a liquid state only in the most low points planets. And secondly, the average surface temperature is -63 o C, so water can only exist in a solid state.

However, early in its history, Mars had more favorable conditions. In early 2013, it was announced that the atmosphere of Mars was rich in oxygen about 4 billion years ago (). Among possible reasons The depletion of oxygen in the atmosphere is called the following:

Gradual destruction of the atmosphere by the solar wind.
A collision with a huge meteorite or comet that had catastrophic consequences for Mars.
The low gravity of Mars does not allow it to retain an atmosphere.

Potential for human use

How can a person use the atmosphere of Mars? This question is being asked more and more often, since the colonization of Mars no longer looks like an impossible fantasy dream. Yes, there are still more questions than answers. But issues need to be resolved one at a time, and not all at once.

Carbon dioxide from Mars' atmosphere could be used to create rocket fuel for the return flight to Earth. There are several options for using this rich volume of CO 2 , one of them is the Sabatier process. This chemical process is the reaction of carbon dioxide with hydrogen over a nickel catalyst. This reaction produces oxygen and methane.

Sabatier's reaction is already being "tried on" by scientists from NASA to process carbon dioxide at the International space station, remaining after the astronauts' breathing. Therefore, on Mars we may not need oxygen in the atmosphere - we will produce it ourselves.


Carbon dioxide	95,32 %
Nitrogen	2,7 %
Argon	1,6 %
Oxygen	0,13 %
Carbon monoxide	0,07 %
water vapor	0,03 %
Nitric oxide(II)	0,013 %
Neon	0,00025 %
Krypton	0,00003 %
Xenon	0,000008 %
Ozone	0,000003 %
Formaldehyde	0,0000013 %

Atmosphere of Mars - gas envelope, surrounding the planet Mars. Significantly different from the earth's atmosphere in both chemical composition, and by physical parameters. The pressure at the surface is 0.7-1.155 kPa (1/110 of the Earth's, or equal to the Earth's at an altitude of over thirty kilometers from the Earth's surface). The approximate thickness of the atmosphere is 110 km. Approximate weight atmosphere 2.5 10 16 kg. Mars has a very weak magnetic field (compared to Earth's), and as a result, the solar wind causes the dissipation of atmospheric gases into space at a rate of 300±200 tons per day (depending on current solar activity and distance from the Sun).

Chemical composition

4 billion years ago, the atmosphere of Mars contained an amount of oxygen comparable to its share on the young Earth.

Temperature fluctuations

Since the atmosphere of Mars is very rarefied, it does not smooth out daily fluctuations in surface temperature. Temperatures at the equator range from +30°C during the day to −80°C at night. At the poles, temperatures can drop to −143°C. However, daily temperature fluctuations are not as significant as on the atmosphereless Moon and Mercury. Low density does not prevent the atmosphere from forming large-scale dust storms and tornadoes, winds, fogs, clouds, and influencing the climate and surface of the planet.

The first measurements of the temperature of Mars using a thermometer placed at the focus of a reflecting telescope were carried out in the early 1920s. Measurements by V. Lampland in 1922 gave average temperature surface of Mars 245 (−28°C), E. Pettit and S. Nicholson in 1924 received 260 K (−13°C). A lower value was obtained in 1960 by W. Sinton and J. Strong: 230 K (−43°C).

Annual cycle

The mass of the atmosphere changes greatly throughout the year due to the condensation of large volumes of carbon dioxide in the polar caps. winter time and evaporation - in the summer.

Mars, the fourth planet farthest from the Sun, is already long time is an object close attention world science. This planet is very similar to Earth with one small but fateful exception - the atmosphere of Mars makes up no more than one percent of the volume earth's atmosphere. The gaseous shell of any planet is the determining factor that shapes it appearance and surface conditions. It is known that all solid worlds solar system formed under approximately the same conditions at a distance of 240 million kilometers from the Sun. If the conditions for the formation of Earth and Mars were almost the same, then why are these planets so different now?

It's all about size - Mars, formed from the same material as Earth, once had a liquid and hot metal core, like our planet. The proof is abundant extinct volcanoes on But the “red planet” is much smaller than Earth. This means that it cooled faster. When the liquid core finally cooled and solidified, the convection process ended, and with it the planet’s magnetic shield, the magnetosphere, disappeared. As a result, the planet remained defenseless against the destructive energy of the Sun, and the atmosphere of Mars was almost completely carried away by the solar wind (a gigantic stream of radioactive ionized particles). The “Red Planet” has turned into a lifeless, dull desert...

Now the atmosphere on Mars is a thin, rarefied gas shell, unable to withstand the penetration of the deadly gas that burns the surface of the planet. The thermal relaxation of Mars is several orders of magnitude less than that of, for example, Venus, whose atmosphere is much denser. The atmosphere of Mars, which has too low a heat capacity, produces more pronounced average daily wind speeds.

The composition of the atmosphere of Mars is characterized by a very high content (95%). The atmosphere also contains nitrogen (about 2.7%), argon (about 1.6%) and a small amount of oxygen (no more than 0.13%). The atmospheric pressure of Mars is 160 times higher than that at the surface of the planet. Unlike the earth's atmosphere, the gas shell here has a pronounced variable character, due to the fact that polar ice caps planets containing great amount carbon dioxide, melt and freeze during one annual cycle.

According to data obtained from the research spacecraft Mars Express, Mars' atmosphere contains some methane. The peculiarity of this gas is its rapid decomposition. This means that somewhere on the planet there must be a source of methane replenishment. There can be only two options here - either geological activity, traces of which have not yet been discovered, or the vital activity of microorganisms, which can change our understanding of the presence of centers of life in the Solar System.

A characteristic effect of the Martian atmosphere is dust storms, which can rage for months. This dense air blanket of the planet consists mainly of carbon dioxide with minor inclusions of oxygen and water vapor. This lingering effect is due to the extremely low gravity of Mars, which allows even a super-rarefied atmosphere to lift billions of tons of dust from the surface and hold for a long time.