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Collision-Induced Absorption of CH$_{4}$-CO$_{2}$ and H$_{2}$-CO$_{2}$ Complexes and Their Effect on the Ancient Martian Atmosphere
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  • Paul Godin,
  • John E Moores,
  • Ramses Mario Ramirez,
  • Charissa Campbell,
  • Kimberly Strong,
  • Tue Giang Nguyen,
  • Tyler Wizenberg
Paul Godin
York University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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John E Moores
York University
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Ramses Mario Ramirez
Tokyo Institute of Technology
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Charissa Campbell
York University
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Kimberly Strong
University of Toronto
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Tue Giang Nguyen
York University
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Tyler Wizenberg
University of Toronto
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Abstract

Experimental measurements of collision-induced absorption (CIA) cross-sections for CO2-H2 and CO2-CH4 complexes were performed using Fourier transform spectroscopy over a spectral range of 100-500 cm and a temperature range of 200-300 K. These experimentally derived CIA cross-sections agree with the spectral range and temperature dependence of the calculation by \citeA{Robin}, however the amplitude is half of what was predicted. Furthermore, the CIA cross-sections reported here agree with those measured by \citeA{Turbet}. The CIA cross-sections can be applied to planetary systems with CO$_{2}$-rich atmospheres, such as Mars and Venus, and will be useful to terrestrial spectroscopists.
Additionally, radiative transfer calculations of the early Mars atmosphere were performed and showed that CO2$-CH4 CIA would require surface pressure greater than 3 bar for a 10% methane atmosphere to achieve 273 K at the surface. CO2-H2, however, liquid water is possible with 5% hydrogen and less than 2 bar of surface pressure.
Dec 2020Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets volume 125 issue 12. 10.1029/2019JE006357