Abstract
The suspended atmospheric dust which is also found deposited over most of the Martian globe plays an important (possibly vital) role in shaping the surface environment. It affects the weather (solar flux), water transport and possibly also the electrical properties at the surface. The simulation facilities at Aarhus provide excellent tools for studying the properties of this Martian environment. Much can be learned from such simulations, supporting and often inspiring new investigations of the planet. Electrical charging of a Mars analogue dust is being studied within a wind tunnel simulation aerosol. Here electric fields are used to extract dust from suspension. Although preliminary the results indicate that a large fraction of the dust is charged to a high degree, sufficient to dominate adhesion/cohesion processes. A Mars analogue dust layer has been shown to be an excellent trap for moisture, causing increased humidity in the soil below. This allows the possibility for liquid water to be stable close to the surface (less than 10cm). This is being investigated in an environment simulator where heat and moisture transport can be studied through layers of Mars analogue dust.
| Original language | English |
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| Journal | European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP |
| Issue number | 518 |
| Pages (from-to) | 77-80 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISSN | 0379-6566 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2002 |
| Event | Proceedings of the Second European Workshop on Exo-Astrobiology - Graz, Austria Duration: 16 Sept 2002 → 19 Sept 2002 |
Conference
| Conference | Proceedings of the Second European Workshop on Exo-Astrobiology |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Graz |
| Period | 16/09/2002 → 19/09/2002 |
| Sponsor | Austrian Aerospace, Austrian Space Agency, Cambridge University Press, City of Graz, European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) |