title: A physical and chemical characterization of Martian permafrost as a possible habitat for viable microorganisms.
abstract: Data from experiments with model samples show that ion transfer coefficients in the water-rich permafrost on Mars must be three orders of magnitude less than those of terrestrial permafrost.  The effects of low temperatures and of carbon dioxide have been accounted for.  Exchange between cells and the environment is impeded in Martian permafrost.  The microscopic distributional heterogeneity of concentration, pH, Eh, and other physicochemical parameters may be more pronounced in the permafrost of Mars.  We present a classification of unfrozen water types in the permafrost that is based on the structures of unfrozen water films and on their functions with respect to cells.  Any viable microorganisms on Mars probably exist with minimum metabolism in compact zones with energy carriers and high transfer coefficients.  These zones may be microvolumes of unfrozen water in which cells accumulate.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil Science and Photosynthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ostroumov
mesh_terms: D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D003081:Cold Climate; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006813:Humidity; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis*; D018535:Mars; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide