Linked Life Data

16044598

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/16044598

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-7-26
pubmed:abstractText
The biologically damaging solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (quantified by the DNA-weighted dose) reaches the martian surface in extremely high levels. Searching for potentially habitable UV-protected environments on Mars, we considered the polar ice caps that consist of a seasonally varying CO2 ice cover and a permanent H2O ice layer. It was found that, though the CO2 ice is insufficient by itself to screen the UV radiation, at approximately 1 m depth within the perennial H2O ice the DNA-weighted dose is reduced to terrestrial levels. This depth depends strongly on the optical properties of the H2O ice layers (for instance snow-like layers). The Earth-like DNA-weighted dose and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) requirements were used to define the upper and lower limits of the northern and southern polar Radiative Habitable Zone (RHZ) for which a temporal and spatial mapping was performed. Based on these studies we conclude that photosynthetic life might be possible within the ice layers of the polar regions. The thickness varies along each martian polar spring and summer between approximately 1.5 and 2.4 m for H2O ice-like layers, and a few centimeters for snow-like covers. These martian Earth-like radiative habitable environments may be primary targets for future martian astrobiological missions. Special attention should be paid to planetary protection, since the polar RHZ may also be subject to terrestrial contamination by probes.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
S
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0019-1035
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
c2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
175
pubmed:owner
NASA
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
360-71
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-11-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Radiative habitable zones in martian polar environments.
pubmed:affiliation
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Area de Investigación e Instrumentación Atmosférica, Madrid, Spain. cordobajc@inta.es
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't