Unexplained Oxygen Variability: New Results On
Molecular Oxygen In The Lower Martian Atmosphere
From Chemcam And Supercam Passive Sky Observations
T. H. Mcconnochie, , Space Science Institute, Boulder Co, Usa (Tmcconnochie@Spacescience.Org), M. G.
Trainer, M. D. Smith, S. D. Guzewich, H. B. Franz, Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md,
Usa, C. E. Newman, Aeolis Research, Chandler, Az, Usa. D. Y. Lo, S. Atreya, University Of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, Mi, Usa, J. E. Moores, H. M. Sapers, Centre For Research In Earth And Space Science, York University, Toronto, Canada, M. T. Lemmon, M. J. Wolff, Space Science Institute, Boulder Co, Usa, F. Montmessin, E. W. Knutsen, Latmos, Guyancourt, France, T. Fouchet, T. Bertrand, Lesia, Paris Observatory,
France, O. Gasnault, J. Lasue, O. Forni, P. Pilleri, S. Maurice, Irap, Cnrs, Université De Toulouse, Upsomp, Toulouse, France, C. Legett Iv, R. T. Newell, D. Venhaus, N. Lanza, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, Nm, Usa, R. C. Wiens, Purdue University, West Lafayette In, Usa, M. Hecht, Mit Haystack Observatory, Westford Ma, Usa, M.-P. Zorzano, Centro De Astrobiologia, Inta, Spain, A. Khayat,
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md, Usa And Cresst Ii, Department Of Astronomy, University Of Maryland, Md, Usa, Franck Lefèvre, Latmos, Cnrs, Sorbonne Université, Uvsq, Paris, France,
Frank Daerden, Royal Belgian Institute For Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium, Anna Fedorova, Alexander
Trokhimovskiy, Space Research Institute Ras, Moscow, Russia
Background: Msl’S Sam-Qms Atmospheric
Sampling Showed That The O2 Volume Mixing Ratio
(Vmr) In The Near-Surface Martian Atmosphere Has
Significant Seasonal And Interannual Deviations From
The Pattern Expected And Observed For Inert Non-Condensable Trace Gases (Trainer Et Al, 2019). Yet Photochemical Gcm’S Show That, Given Known Chemistry,
O2 Should Behave Identically To Inert Trace Gases Such
As Argon (Lefevre Et Al., 2004; Daerden Et Al., 2019),
Consistent With Photochemical Models Showing O2
Lifetimes Of At Least 10 Years (Atreya Et Al., 2006;