There was water on Mars, but that liquid dripped onto certain types of rock, setting off a chain of slow reactions that gradually pulled carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and stored it as a type of carbon. The researchers suggest that it may have been converted to methane. For a long time in clay.
Courtesy of researchers
The researchers applied what they know about the interactions between rocks and gases on Earth to how similar processes occur on Mars. They found that the amount of clay covering the surface of Mars could hold up to 1.7 bar of CO2. This represents about 80% of Mars’ early atmosphere. “In some ways, Mars’ missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight,” Murray said.
Researchers believe this sequestered carbon could one day be captured and converted into propellant to fuel future missions between Mars and Earth.
