Abstract
The value of the sorbtional specific surface of the martian soil (from CO2 evolution in GEX (gas exchange experiments) of Viking craft) is more than an order of magnitude greater than the value of its geometrical specific surface (from granulometry). An hypothesis is therefore proposed here to explain the microporous structure of the soil grains. Absence of O2 and CO2 in GCMS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) (heating up to 500 °C) gives some indication of the closeness of the pores. The origin of such soil structure and the filling of pores with CO2 and O2 due to the effects of various forms of radiation are discussed. The similarity between kinetics in LR (labelled release) and GEX as well as their correspondence with the filtration curve for water vapour migrating through the soil sample suggest that both the formation and the diffusion of the gases are rapid processes. Displacement desorption by water vapour by simultaneous opening of the pores due to the Rebinder effect, is suggested as the natural mechanism for outgassing in the GEX and LR ‘Viking’ experiments.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Klein, H. P. et al. Science 194, 99–105 (1976).
Metz, W. D. Science 194, 819 (1976).
Levin, G. et al. Science 194, 1322 (1976).
Klein, H. P. et al. Nature 262, 24–27 (1976).
Eglington, G. & Maxwell, R. Nature 265, 499 (1977).
Bleman, K. et al. J. geophys. Res. 82, 4641 (1977).
Oyama, V. I. et al. Nature 265, 110–114 (1977).
Holmes, H. F. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 28, 33–36 (1975).
Chernyak, Yu. B. & Yakhot, V. S. Sov. J.: Vestnik, Mosk. Univ. Phis. Ast. 14, 112–115 (1972).
Chernyak, Yu. B. et al. Sov. J.: Vestnik Mosk. Univ. Phis. Astr. 18, 46–54; 18, 115–125 (1977).
Upit, G. P. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 174 (1976).
Gibbson, E. K., Jr Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 15, 303 (1977).
Chernyak, Yu. B. & Nussinov, M. D. Nature 264, 241 (1976).
Surkov, Yu. A. et al. Sov. J. Geohim. 1516–1523 (1974).
Rossing, T. D. et al. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 14, 550–555 (1977).
Dienes, G. J. & Vineyard, G. H. Radiation Effects in Solids, Ch. 6, Wiley, New York, 1957).
Gegusin, Ya. E. in Physics of Sintering (Nauka, Moscow, 1967).
Kenty, G. Proc. 13th A. MIT Conf. on Phys. Elect., 138 (1953).
Fuller, E. L. J. Coll. Interf. Sci. 55, 358–369 (1976).
Holmes, H. F. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 19, 90–96 (1973).
Rebinder, P. A. & Shukin, E. D. Usp. fiz. Nauk 108, 3 (1972).
Barenblatt, G. I. et al. Theory of Non-stationary Filtration of Liquids and Gases Nedra Moscow (1972).
Morse, Ph. M. & Feshbach, H. Methods of Theoretical Physics (McGraw Hill, New York, 1953).
Shorthill, R. W. et al. Science 194, 91–97 (1976).
Chandrasekhar, S. Rev. mod. Phys. 15, 1–89 (1943).
De Boer, The Dynamical Character of Adsorption (Clarendon Oxford 1953).
Pollack, J. B. et al. J. geophys. Res. 75, 7480 (1970).
Fanale, F. P. & Cannon, W. A. J. geophys. Res. 79, 3397–3402 (1974).
Mutch, T. A. et al. Science 194, 87–91 (1976).
Moros, V. I. Sov. J. Kosmich. Issledovaniya 14, 406–417 (1976).
Huguenin, R. et al. Bull. Am. astr. Soc. 9, part 1 (1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nussinov, M., Chernyak, Y. & Ettinger, J. Model of the fine-grain component of martian soil based on Viking lander data. Nature 274, 859–861 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274859a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/274859a0
This article is cited by
-
Viking Biology Experiments: Lessons Learned and the Role of Ecology in Future Mars Life-Detection Experiments
Space Science Reviews (2008)
-
Chemical model for Viking biology experiments: implications for the composition of the martian regolith
Nature (1989)
-
Cosmic vacuum prevents radiopanspermia
Origins of Life (1983)
-
Viking Mars labelled release results
Nature (1979)
-
Viking Mars labelled release results (reply)
Nature (1979)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.