Evolution of the water regime of Phobos

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(90)90089-R· OSTI ID:5932066

Fanale, F P; Salvail, J R ^[1]

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1. Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA)

In the present model of Phobos water regime evolution, a time-dependent solar insolation is influenced by both decreasing solar output over geologic time and the Mars and Phobos cycles of eccentricity and obliquity, which vary over 100,000-1,000,000 year time scales. The results presented address model cases which assume (1) a homogeneous distribution of water ice, and (2) a driving of water ice toward the surface by the internal thermal gradient near the poles. A two-dimensional model is used to compute temperatures, heat and vapor fluxes, and ice removal/deposition rates, for the case of uniform ice distribution throughout Phobos. The results obtained indicate that a substantial amount of vapor is produced within 1 km of the surface. 15 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5932066
• Journal Information: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA), Vol. 88; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MARS PLANET
SATELLITES
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
GEOLOGY
HEAT FLUX
ICE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TIME DEPENDENCE
WATER VAPOR
FLUIDS
GASES
PLANETS
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
VAPORS
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena