A hybrid origin for the Martian atmosphere

The Martian isotopic record displays a dichotomy in volatile compositions. Interior volatiles from the mantle record a chondritic heritage (e.g., H, N, Kr, Xe) whereas the atmospheric reservoir of Kr and Xe – which do not currently experience escape – record heritage from a solar-like source. Motivated by disparate inferences on the source of Martian atmospheric volatiles (outgassed versus nebular captured), we consider hybrid-source accretionary atmospheres in which a high molecular weight (e.g., CO2-rich) outgassed component is mixed with the low molecular weight H2-rich nebular atmosphere. We conduct calculations of nebular capture with and without a high molecular weight outgassed component mixed into the atmosphere during the lifetime of the solar nebula. Mixing an outgassed component enhances the nebular captured gas inventory by ≈1–3 orders of magnitude – depending on the outgassed inventory – relative to “pure” nebular capture. These observations and calculations suggest that the Martian atmosphere arose as a subequal mixture of outgassed and nebular-derived components, and provide a framework for assessing the role of various mechanisms of gas loss over the entire history of the planet.