Herschel/HIFI observations of Mars: First detection of O2at submillimetre wavelengths and upper limits on HCl and H2O2*

Authors :: Hartogh, P.
Jarchow, C.
Lellouch, E.
de Val-Borro, M.
Rengel, M.
Moreno, R.
Medvedev, A. S.
Sagawa, H.
Swinyard, B. M.
Cavalié, T.
Lis, D. C.
Błęcka, M. I.
Banaszkiewicz, M.
Bockelée-Morvan, D.
Crovisier, J.
Encrenaz, T.
Küppers, M.
Lara, L.-M.
Szutowicz, S.
Vandenbussche, B.
Bensch, F.
Bergin, E. A.
Billebaud, F.
Biver, N.
Blake, G. A.
Blommaert, J. A. D. L.
Cernicharo, J.
Decin, L.
Encrenaz, P.
Feuchtgruber, H.
Fulton, T.
de Graauw, T.
Jehin, E.
Kidger, M.
Lorente, R.
Naylor, D. A.
Portyankina, G.
Sánchez-Portal, M.
Schieder, R.
Sidher, S.
Thomas, N.
Verdugo, E.
Waelkens, C.
Whyborn, N.
Teyssier, D.
Helmich, F.
Roelfsema, P.
Stutzki, J.
LeDuc, H. G.
Stern, J. A.
Source :: Astronomy and Astrophysics; October 2010, Vol. 521 Issue: 1
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: We report on an initial analysis of Herschel/HIFI observations of hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and molecular oxygen (O2) in the Martian atmosphere performed on 13 and 16 April 2010 (Ls~ 77°). We derived a constant volume mixing ratio of 1400 ±120 ppm for O2and determined upper limits of 200 ppt for HCl and 2 ppb for H2O2. Radiative transfer model calculations indicate that the vertical profile of O2may not be constant. Photochemical models determine the lowest values of H2O2to be around Ls~ 75° but overestimate the volume mixing ratio compared to our measurements.

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