Suppose that we could increase the atmospheric pressure on the surface of Mars to 0.2 bar, by vaporizing the polar caps and subsurface ice. This atmosphere would then likely decrease over time, as a result of several processes, such as escape into space, and erosion by the solar wind. How would the surface pressure decrease as a function of time? How much time would it take until the pressure is only 0.1 bar?

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
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Suppose that we could increase the atmospheric pressure on the surface of Mars to 0.2 bar, by vaporizing the polar caps and subsurface ice. This atmosphere would then likely decrease over time, as a result of several processes, such as escape into space, and erosion by the solar wind. How would the surface pressure decrease as a function of time? How much time would it take until the pressure is only 0.1 bar?  

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