Abstract
The ‘blue haze’ is an absorbing smoke, dark as soot in reflection, red in transmission. Its currently accepted explanation by pure scattering (omnidirectional or forward) is untenable, as it would either increase the surface brightness or fail to obscure the surface details. The limb darkening of Mars is mainly the result of absorption by the smoke. The opacity of the Martian atmosphere increases from the red toward the violet. The extinction by the Martian atmosphere is greater than that by the terrestrial at all wavelengths, but only about 20 per cent of the Martian extinction is due to scattering. Dollfus' polarimetric estimate, corrected for self-absorption, corresponds to a Martian atmospheric pressure of 87 mm Hg. The photochemical breakup of carbon dioxide and the escape of oxygen must lead to considerable concentrations of carbon monoxide in the Martian atmosphere.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
