title: An extensive phase space for the potential martian biosphere.
abstract: We present a comprehensive model of martian pressure-temperature (P-T) phase space and compare it with that of Earth. Martian P-T conditions compatible with liquid water extend to a depth of ∼310 km. We use our phase space model of Mars and of terrestrial life to estimate the depths and extent of the water on Mars that is habitable for terrestrial life. We find an extensive overlap between inhabited terrestrial phase space and martian phase space. The lower martian surface temperatures and shallower martian geotherm suggest that, if there is a hot deep biosphere on Mars, it could extend 7 times deeper than the ∼5 km depth of the hot deep terrestrial biosphere in the crust inhabited by hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophs. This corresponds to ∼3.2% of the volume of present-day Mars being potentially habitable for terrestrial-like life.
authors.affiliation: Planetary Sciences Institute, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. eriita@mso.anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Eriita G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lineweaver
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D018535:Mars; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011312:Pressure; D012987:Soil; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water