Radiative habitable zones in martian polar environments

• Published in: Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962) Vol. 175; no. 2; pp. 360 - 371
• Main Authors: Córdoba-Jabonero, Carmen, Zorzano, María-Paz, Selsis, Franck, Patel, Manish R., Cockell, Charles S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.06.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arctic Regions; Astronomy; Atmosfärsvetenskap; Atmospheric science; Carbon Dioxide - chemistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Earth, ocean, space; Environment; Environmental Exposure; Exact sciences and technology; Exobiology; Ice; Ices; Mars; Photosynthesis - radiation effects; Radiation Dosage; Radiative transfer; Seasons; Solar radiation; Solar system; Sunlight; surface; Terrestrial planets; Ultraviolet Rays; Water - chemistry; Arctic Regions; Terrestrial planets; Exobiology; Mars; Ices; Radiative transfer; Solar radiation; Lower bound; Exobiology: Ices; Mars; Ice; Habitable space; Upper bound; Ultraviolet radiation; Terrestrial planet; Optical properties; Mapping manifolds; Solar system; surface: Radiative transfers Solar radiation; Terrestrial planets

The biologically damaging solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (quantified by the DNA-weighted dose) reaches the martian surface in extremely high levels. Searching for potentially habitable UV-protected environments on Mars, we considered the polar ice caps that consist of a seasonally varying CO 2 ice...