Aeronomy of the lower atmosphere of Mars

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Abstract
Recent models and observations relevant to Martian aeronomy are discussed. The stability of the CO2 atmosphere against photodissociation into CO and O2 has finally been accounted for. The basic mechanism is catalysis by odd hydrogen, aided by very rapid downward mixing, photolysis of H2O2, or some combination. The low abundance of ozone at low latitudes is readily explained, and its higher abundance in cold regions is accounted for by the freezing out of H2O, H2O2, and possibly HO2. The system seems likely to be unstable, and major changes of the CO and O2 abundances may be expected on a time scale of 1 year.