▲ In the processed color image, the blue hue in the upper left corner indicates that the iron is lost due to weathering during the weathering of the rock, which is a direct geological evidence of the existence of a reducing environment on Mars. (Photo of Hong Kong University)
The image of Mars has always been a red planet, but scientists believe that Mars in ancient times was not so red, and had a strong greenhouse effect like the Earth. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences of Hong Kong University conducted a study. By analyzing the molecular vibrations of the surface material on Mars, it was found that the ancient rocks of Mars had experienced reductive chemical weathering, which showed that there was indeed a reductive atmospheric environment in early Mars. Sexual atmosphere is a necessary condition for high-intensity greenhouse effect.
The research was led by Liu Jiacheng, a PhD student from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Space Research Laboratory of the University of Hong Kong, and his supervisor Dr. Joseph Michalski. The team used detailed analysis of infrared remote sensing and used infrared spectroscopy to study the mineral distribution characteristics of weathered rock outcrops. Used to analyze the degree of chemical weathering of basalt on Hainan Island.
In this research, the team used hyperspectral remote sensing technology to analyze the molecular vibrations of Mars surface materials to study the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of Martian ancient rocks. After comparing the data, they found that the ancient rocks exposed on the Martian surface had experienced Reductive chemical weathering shows that there was indeed a reductive atmosphere on Mars in the early days.
Earlier, scientists used mathematical models to study the atmosphere and paleo-climate of early Mars, and found that early Mars had a strong greenhouse effect. The climate was warmer and humid enough to allow river channels, lakes and water-containing minerals to form on the surface, while the reducing atmosphere is high intensity A necessary condition for the greenhouse effect. Prior to the Hong Kong University study, there was no evidence that a reductive atmosphere appeared on early Mars. This study confirmed that the early Martian atmosphere was indeed reductive. The research results have been published in the authoritative academic journal “Nature·Astronomy” (Nature Astronomy) Published in.
Ryan Mckenzie, assistant professor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hong Kong University, believes that the findings of the study will affect scientists’ understanding of the early evolution of terrestrial planets and their surface environment, and may have implications for the existence of a biosphere on early Mars.
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Reporter: Xu Shaoxuan
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