NAI
2009 Annual Science Report
Arizona State University
Reporting | JUL 2008 – AUG 2009
Habitability of Water-Rich Environments, Task 1: Improve and Test Codes to Model Water-Rock Interactions
Project Summary
Many potentially habitable water-rich environments are not directly observable. These include ancient fluids on Mars, the subsurface oceans on Europa and other icy bodies, and the oceans of postulated extrasolar planets. Computer models are required to simulate the chemical compositions of these environments. In this task we are improving the computer codes used to model water-rock interactions.
Project Progress
Co-I Zolotov and collaborator Mironenko began work to expand capability of codes to calculate thermochemical equilibria in saline aqueous systems with Al and Si species (mainly silicates and aluminosilicates). These systems are likely to represent aqueous solutions on ancient Mars and in the oceans of icy satellites. Calculation of water activity is a key part of these calculations.
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PROJECT INVESTIGATORS:
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PROJECT MEMBERS:
Mikhail Mironenko
Collaborator
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RELATED OBJECTIVES:
Objective 2.1
Mars exploration.
Objective 2.2
Outer Solar System exploration
