Above the surface of Mars has water vapor

Scientists from the Institute of Space Research Institute (IKI) found water vapor at an altitude of 20-50 km above the surface of Mars. Discover pairs managed by a multi-functional optical spectrometer SPICAM, which was installed on board the European Mars probe "Mars Express." The probe went into another mission June 2, 2003. Then he launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using Russian carrier rocket "Soyuz-FG" with the upper stage "Fregat».

Thus, the hypothesis that in extremely rarefied atmosphere Mars at such altitudes water can not exist in a supersaturated state (in the form of steam) is refuted. SPICAM data led to the conclusion that in the atmosphere of Mars is more than ten times more water vapor than previously thought.



Prior to this, scientists generally use mathematical models and empirical knowledge was lacking. SPICAM spectrometer developed by SRI in collaboration with scientists from Belgium and the United States. He can "look" at the sun through the layer of the atmosphere of Mars, which helped get the spectrum and assess its gas composition at different altitudes.

Institute staff clarified that the phenomenon exists throughout the northern hemisphere of Mars. In the southern hemisphere steam accumulates only in the vicinity of the pole. The vertical arrangement of the pair is the key to the study of Martian climate. This should result in new and more profound conclusions about the atmosphere of the red planet.

Source: www.rg.ru and www.lawinrussia.ru .

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via factroom.ru