An extensive phase space for the potential Martian biosphere

Eriita G. Jones; Charles H. Lineweaver; Jonathan D. Clarke

doi:10.1089/ast.2011.0660

An extensive phase space for the potential Martian biosphere

Eriita G. Jones^*, Charles H. Lineweaver, Jonathan D. Clarke

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present a comprehensive model of martian pressure-temperature (P-T) phase space and compare it with that of Earth. Martian P-T conditions compatible with liquid water extend to a depth of ∼310km. We use our phase space model of Mars and of terrestrial life to estimate the depths and extent of the water on Mars that is habitable for terrestrial life. We find an extensive overlap between inhabited terrestrial phase space and martian phase space. The lower martian surface temperatures and shallower martian geotherm suggest that, if there is a hot deep biosphere on Mars, it could extend 7 times deeper than the ∼5km depth of the hot deep terrestrial biosphere in the crust inhabited by hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophs. This corresponds to ∼3.2% of the volume of present-day Mars being potentially habitable for terrestrial-like life.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1017-1033
Number of pages	17
Journal	Astrobiology
Volume	11
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2011.0660
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2011

Access to Document

10.1089/ast.2011.0660

Cite this

@article{41874c44c00d4d08b008048398d31fa6,

title = "An extensive phase space for the potential Martian biosphere",

abstract = "We present a comprehensive model of martian pressure-temperature (P-T) phase space and compare it with that of Earth. Martian P-T conditions compatible with liquid water extend to a depth of ∼310km. We use our phase space model of Mars and of terrestrial life to estimate the depths and extent of the water on Mars that is habitable for terrestrial life. We find an extensive overlap between inhabited terrestrial phase space and martian phase space. The lower martian surface temperatures and shallower martian geotherm suggest that, if there is a hot deep biosphere on Mars, it could extend 7 times deeper than the ∼5km depth of the hot deep terrestrial biosphere in the crust inhabited by hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophs. This corresponds to ∼3.2% of the volume of present-day Mars being potentially habitable for terrestrial-like life.",

keywords = "Biosphere, Extremophiles, Limits of life, Mars, Water",

author = "Jones, {Eriita G.} and Lineweaver, {Charles H.} and Clarke, {Jonathan D.}",

year = "2011",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1089/ast.2011.0660",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

pages = "1017--1033",

journal = "Astrobiology",

issn = "1531-1074",

publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - An extensive phase space for the potential Martian biosphere

AU - Jones, Eriita G.

AU - Lineweaver, Charles H.

AU - Clarke, Jonathan D.

PY - 2011/12/1

Y1 - 2011/12/1

N2 - We present a comprehensive model of martian pressure-temperature (P-T) phase space and compare it with that of Earth. Martian P-T conditions compatible with liquid water extend to a depth of ∼310km. We use our phase space model of Mars and of terrestrial life to estimate the depths and extent of the water on Mars that is habitable for terrestrial life. We find an extensive overlap between inhabited terrestrial phase space and martian phase space. The lower martian surface temperatures and shallower martian geotherm suggest that, if there is a hot deep biosphere on Mars, it could extend 7 times deeper than the ∼5km depth of the hot deep terrestrial biosphere in the crust inhabited by hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophs. This corresponds to ∼3.2% of the volume of present-day Mars being potentially habitable for terrestrial-like life.

AB - We present a comprehensive model of martian pressure-temperature (P-T) phase space and compare it with that of Earth. Martian P-T conditions compatible with liquid water extend to a depth of ∼310km. We use our phase space model of Mars and of terrestrial life to estimate the depths and extent of the water on Mars that is habitable for terrestrial life. We find an extensive overlap between inhabited terrestrial phase space and martian phase space. The lower martian surface temperatures and shallower martian geotherm suggest that, if there is a hot deep biosphere on Mars, it could extend 7 times deeper than the ∼5km depth of the hot deep terrestrial biosphere in the crust inhabited by hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophs. This corresponds to ∼3.2% of the volume of present-day Mars being potentially habitable for terrestrial-like life.

KW - Biosphere

KW - Extremophiles

KW - Limits of life

KW - Mars

KW - Water

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84555188137&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1089/ast.2011.0660

DO - 10.1089/ast.2011.0660

M3 - Article

SN - 1531-1074

VL - 11

SP - 1017

EP - 1033

JO - Astrobiology

JF - Astrobiology

IS - 10

ER -

An extensive phase space for the potential Martian biosphere

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this