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Chapter 18: Problem 36

The atmosphere of Mars is \(96 \% \mathrm{CO}_{2},\) with a pressure of approximately \(6 \times 10^{-3}\) atm at the surface. Based on measurements taken over a period of several years by the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS), the average daytime temperature at the REMS location on Mars is \(-5.7^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\left(22^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\right),\) while the average nighttime temperature is \(-79^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\left(-109^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\right) .\) This daily variation in temperature is much larger than what we experience on Earth. What factor plays the largest role in this wide temperature variation, the composition or the density of the atmosphere?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The density of Mars' atmosphere plays the largest role in the wide temperature variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Although Mars' atmosphere is composed of 96% CO2, a greenhouse gas that can trap heat, the lower density of the atmosphere makes it less capable of trapping and retaining heat. This results in a significant drop in nighttime temperatures.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the role of the composition of Mars' atmosphere

The atmosphere of Mars consists of 96% CO2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which means it has the ability to trap heat. A higher concentration of CO2 in any atmosphere plays a significant role in keeping the planet warm. We can keep in mind that Earth has a much lower concentration of CO2 in its atmosphere (less than 1%), and it plays a crucial role in maintaining the average temperature of the planet. Thus, it is understood that the composition could have a considerable influence on the temperature variation.
02

Understanding the role of the density of Mars' atmosphere

Surface pressure can be a property that can give some understanding of the density of Mars' atmosphere. Mars has a surface pressure of about 6 x 10^{-3} atm, which is much lower than Earth's atmosphere. A lower surface pressure generally reflects a less dense atmosphere. A denser atmosphere has a higher capacity of trapping heat, which means that lesser density in Mars' atmosphere will make it much less effective in trapping heat. As a result, the atmosphere cannot hold the heat as efficiently as a denser atmosphere like Earth's.
03

Comparing the effects of composition and density of the atmosphere

The composition of Mars' atmosphere, with 96% CO2, should in theory contribute to keeping the planet warm due to its greenhouse gas properties. However, the density of the Mars' atmosphere is a crucial factor to consider. The lower density means that the atmosphere is less capable of trapping and retaining heat.
04

Determining the main factor causing temperature variations

Based on the comparison discussed in Step 3, we can conclude that the density of the atmosphere at Mars' surface plays a larger role in the wide temperature variation between day and night. The lower density of Mars' atmosphere is less effective in trapping heat, and hence, is responsible for the significant drop in nighttime temperature. Therefore, it is the density of Mars' atmosphere that plays the largest role in the wide temperature variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Which of the following reactions in the stratosphere cause an increase in temperature there? \begin{equation}\begin{array}{l}{\text { (a) } \mathrm{O}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{O}_{3}^{*}(g)} \\ {\text { (b) } \mathrm{O}_{3}^{\star}(g)+\mathrm{M}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{O}_{3}(g)+\mathrm{M}^{\star}(g)} \\ {\text { (c) } \mathrm{O}_{2}(g)+h \nu \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{O}(g)}\\\\{\text { (d) } \mathrm{O}(g)+\mathrm{N}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}(g)+\mathrm{N}(g)} \\\ {\text { (e) All of the above }}\end{array}\end{equation}

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