title: Massive CO₂ ice deposits sequestered in the south polar layered deposits of Mars.
abstract: Shallow Radar soundings from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal a buried deposit of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) ice within the south polar layered deposits of Mars with a volume of 9500 to 12,500 cubic kilometers, about 30 times that previously estimated for the south pole residual cap. The deposit occurs within a stratigraphic unit that is uniquely marked by collapse features and other evidence of interior CO(2) volatile release. If released into the atmosphere at times of high obliquity, the CO(2) reservoir would increase the atmospheric mass by up to 80%, leading to more frequent and intense dust storms and to more regions where liquid water could persist without boiling.
authors.affiliation: Planetary Science Directorate, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA. roger@boulder.swri.edu
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mellon
authors.forename: Nathaniel E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Putzig
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Haberle
authors.forename: Melinda A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kahre
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Isaac B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Smrekar
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Plaut
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Timothy N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Titus
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seu
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004367:Dry Ice; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D007053:Ice; D018535:Mars; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D004367:Dry Ice; D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide