International Journal of Astrobiology

Table of Contents - 2009 - Volume 8, Issue 02  

Research Article

Mars polar cap: a habitat for elementary life1

M.K. Wallisa1 c1, J.T. Wickramasinghea1 and N.C. Wickramasinghea1

a1 Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

Abstract

Ices in the Martian polar caps are potential habitats for various species of microorganisms. Salts in the ice and biological anti-freeze polymers maintain liquid in cracks in the ices far below 0°C, possibly down to the mean 220–240 K. Sub-surface microbial life is shielded from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, but could potentially be activated on south-facing slopes under the midday, midsummer Sun. Such life would be limited by low levels of vapour, little transport of nutrients, low light levels below a protective dirt-crust, frost accumulation at night and in shadows, and little if any active translocation of organisms. As in the Antarctic and in permafrost, movement to new habitats depends on geo-climatic changes, which for Mars's north polar cap occur on a 50 000 year scale, except for rare meteorite impacts.

(Received September 02 2008)

(Accepted March 23 2009)

(Online publication April 27 2009)

Key Words:

Correspondence:

c1 e-mail: wallismk@cf.ac.uk

Footnotes

1 Poster paper at the Astrobiology Society of Britain Conference, Cardiff, July 2008.