Persisting Lakes on a Cold Mars: the Potential Role of Seasonal Ice Cover

Session: Geomorphology and Surface Processes Across the Solar System

Presenting Author:

Eleanor Moreland

Authors:

Moreland, Eleanor Louise¹, Dee, Sylvia², Jiang, Yueyang³, Bischof, Grace⁴, Mischna, Michael⁵, Hartigan, Nyla⁶, Russell, James⁷, Moores, John⁸, Siebach, Kirsten⁹

(1) Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA, (2) Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA, (3) Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA, (4) Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada; California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA, (5) California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA, (6) Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA, (7) Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA, (8) Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada, (9) Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA,

Abstract:

There have long been efforts to reconcile Mars’ geomorphic expression with its climate history. On the one hand, stratigraphy and geomorphology across the planet suggest a long history of water-rock interactions; on the other hand, models struggle to simulate past climate conditions capable of supporting such an environment. The Curiosity rover, sent to Gale crater, is investigating one of these sites on the ground, collecting ample in situ data related to Gale’s watery past. This provides a case study to improve the connections between Mars’ geology and climate, leading to a better understanding of the planet’s history. To this end, we have developed the Lake Modeling on Mars for Atmospheric Reconstructions and Simulations (LakeM²ARS) model. This model is modified from an Earth-based lake model to function in localized environments under the expected conditions of ~3.6 Ga Mars. We combine results from the Mars Weather Research & Forecasting (MarsWRF) general circulation model with geologic observations from the Curiosity rover, finding stratigraphic constraints on lake conditions. Using these data, we investigate the conditions required to sustain a liquid water lake in Gale crater. Our results show that an initially small lake system with ~50 mm monthly water input and seasonal ice cover would retain seasonal liquid water for over 100 years, suggesting seasonal ice cover could be an important mechanism for the existence of lakes on early Mars. Continued use and iteration of LakeM²ARS will improve the connections between Mars geology and climate, hopefully leading to more nuanced interpretations of Mars’ history.