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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/41244| Title: | Sublimation of terrestrial permafrost and the implications for ice-loss processes on Mars |
| Authors: | Douglas, Thomas A. Mellon, Michael T. |
| Keywords: | Ice--Sublimation (Chemistry) Frozen ground Fairbanks (Alaska)--Soils Mars (Planet)--Soils Space vehicles--Landing--Mars (Planet) |
| Publisher: | Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) |
| Series/Report no.: | Miscellaneous Paper (Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)) ; no. ERDC/CRREL MP-21-13 |
| Is Version Of: | Douglas, Thomas A., and Michael T. Mellon. "Sublimation of terrestrial permafrost and the implications for ice-loss processes on Mars." Nature communications 10, no. 1 (2019): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09410-8 |
| Abstract: | Sublimation of ice is rate-controlled by vapor transport away from its outer surface and may have generated landforms on Mars. In ice-cemented ground (permafrost), the lag of soil particles remaining after ice loss decreases subsequent sublimation. Varying soil-ice ratios lead to differential lag development. Here we report 52 years of sublimation measurements from a permafrost tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska, and constrain models of sublimation, diffusion through porous soil, and lag formation. We derive the first long-term in situ effective diffusion coefficient of ice-free loess, a Mars analog soil, of 9.05 × 10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹, ~5× larger than past theoretical studies. Exposed ice-wedge sublimation proceeds ~4× faster than predicted from analogy to heat loss by buoyant convection, a theory frequently employed in Mars studies. Our results can be used to map near-surface ice-content differences, identify surface processes controlling landform formation and morphology, and identify target landing sites for human exploration of Mars. |
| Description: | Miscellaneous Paper |
| Gov't Doc #: | ERDC/CRREL MP-21-13 |
| Rights: | Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited |
| URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/11681/41244 http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/41244 |
| Appears in Collections: | Miscellaneous Paper |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERDC-CRREL MP-21-13.pdf | 2.08 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |