Scientists have been able to measure the seasonal fluctuations of oxygen in the Martian atmosphere. The results amazed scientists: the level of gas needed to maintain life increases in spring and summer, falls by autumn.

The atmosphere of Mars is very rarefied. The gas pressure at the surface reaches one thousandth of the earth. And the amount of oxygen — the gas necessary to sustain life — is only 0.16% by volume. The main component of unearthly air is carbon dioxide.

It turned out that with the advent of winter there is a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure (also carbon dioxide). The decrease in pressure is due to the fact that carbon dioxide freezes at the poles (at a temperature of -78 degrees). In spring and summer, carbon dioxide evaporates again and pressure rises. Argon and nitrogen also act in the same way - gases that are in an insignificant amount in the Martian atmosphere.

Previously, scientists assumed that oxygen would change its properties in the same way. However, these changes were reversed. Employees of the National American Space Agency found that the concentration of oxygen in spring and summer increases by a third. In autumn, it drops to normal levels. And this was repeated every Martian spring. It turned out that some kind of process is happening on Mars, which leads to the release of gas in the warm season and its preservation in the cold.

At first, scientists did not believe their results and even tried to check if the Curiosity rover had deteriorated. But it was all right with him. There are a large number of hypotheses explaining the changes in the Martian atmosphere. One of them is the possibility of the decomposition of carbon dioxide molecules.

But for such changes in oxygen to occur due to the decomposition of a water molecule, it is necessary that this substance be several times more on Mars. Other hypotheses, so far, give more questions than answers. So far, it is known that there is no similar process on Earth.
It is known that the soil of the red planet contains a large amount of oxygen. But this also cannot explain where oxygen disappears every fall and where it comes from in the spring.

Planetologist Melissa Trainer, working at the Space Flight Center. Goddard noted that she and her colleagues are trying in vain to explain the processes taking place on Mars. It is possible that this is not “blamed” for the dynamics of atmospheric processes, but a powerful source and at the same time an oxygen scavenger. Scientists cannot find it yet. It is only clear that there is no terrestrial analogue of this material.

At the same time, scientists have no evidence that would indicate the existence of life on a neighboring planet. And while its presence is not proven, scientists believe that the fluctuations of oxygen on Mars cause certain geological processes unknown to scientists today. It is known so far that they occur without the participation of any organisms.