Publication Date:
2023-08-30
Description:
Empirical laboratory spectroscopic studies of materials relevant to the Earth and Mars can provide multiple benefits to planetary exploration. We have undertaken a spectral transmission study of an extensive suite (〉25 sample) of natural and anthropogenic materials present in the Earth’s atmosphere as well as of minerals known to be present or hoped-for on Mars that: (1) can be indicative of habitability; (2) may be indicative of biological processes; or are considered to be important for microorganism metabolism. Transmission spectra of these samples were acquired over the 1.5-25 micron range for different concentrations (0.3-15 wt.%) of fine-grained powders dispersed in KBr, as well as reflectance spectra over the 0.35-2.5 µm range or higher, providing a region of spectral overlap to compare transmission to reflectance absorption features. Using different concentrations of sample allows for identification of: weak and strong absorption bands; diagnostic spectral regions; as well as atmospheric windows for different dust loadings. Solar occultation measurements of the Martian atmosphere, such as those acquired by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, could be used in conjunction with these laboratory measurements to estimate atmospheric opacity. In addition, solar occultation measurements could allow for better identification of phases which are weakly expressed in surface reflectance spectra.
Language:
English
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceObject
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