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The Shielding Effect of Small-scale Martian Surface Geometry on Ultraviolet Flux by J.E. Moores; P.H. Smith; R. Tanner; A.C. Schuerger; K.J. Venkateswaran is a Physics and Astronomy article available to read on EtoBox.

What is The Shielding Effect of Small-scale Martian Surface Geometry on Ultraviolet Flux about?

The atmosphere of Mars does little to attenuate incoming ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Large amounts of UV radiation sterilize the hardiest of terrestrial organisms within minutes, and chemically alter the soil such that organic molecules at or near the surface are rapidly destroyed. Thus the survival of any putative martian life near the surface depends to a large extent on how much UV radiation it receives. Variations in small-scale geometry of the surface such as pits, trenches, flat faces and overhangs can have a significant effect on the incident UV flux and may create "safe havens" for organisms and organic molecules. In order to examine this effect, a 1-D radiative transfer sky model with 836 meshed points (plus the Sun) was developed which includes both diffuse and direct components of the surface irradiance. This model derives the variation of UV flux with latitude and an object's Geometric Shielding Ratio (a ratio which describes the geometry of each situation). The best protection is offered by overhangs with flux reduced to a factor of 1.8 ± 0.2 × 10 -5 of the unprotected value, a reduction which does not vary significantly by latitude. Pits and cracks are less effective

Who reads The Shielding Effect of Small-scale Martian Surface Geometry on Ultraviolet Flux?

Author

J.E. Moores; P.H. Smith; R. Tanner; A.C. Schuerger; K.J. Venkateswaran

Publisher

Elsevier Science; Elsevier ; Elsevier Inc.; Elsevier BV; Oxford University Press (OUP) (ISSN 0019-1035)

Published

2007

Language

EN

Field

Physics and Astronomy (Physical Sciences)