OZONE AND PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF THE MARTIAN LOWER ATMOSPHERE

The calculation of number densities of CO2, H2O and N2 photolysis products was carried out for the Martian atmosphere at heights up to 60 km. The ozone distributed in the atmosphere as a layer of 10 km width with [O3] max = 2.5 × 109 cm3 at height of 35 km which agree well with the results of u.v. observations on the evening terminator from the Mars-5 satellite. The calculated densities of O2, CO and H2O are also in good agreement with the measured data. The eddy diffusion coefficient is equal to 3 × 106 in the troposphere (h ≤ 30 km) and 108 cm2 s-1 above 40 km. The dependence of the total ozone content on water vapour amount in the atmosphere is considered; the hypothesis about the influence of water ice aerosol on the ozone formation is proposed to explain the high concentrations of ozone in the morning. © 1979.