Abstract The discovery and subsequent investigations of atmospheric oxygen on Mars are reviewed. Free oxygen is a biomarker produced by photosynthesizing organisms. Oxygen is reactive and on Mars may be destroyed in 10 years and is continually replenished. Diurnal and spring/summer increases in oxygen have been documented, and these variations parallel biologically induced fluctuations on Earth. Data from the Viking biological experiments also support active biology, though these results have been disputed. Although there is no conclusive proof of current or past life on Mars, organic matter has been detected and specimens resembling green algae / cyanobacteria, lichens, stromatolites, and open apertures and fenestrae for the venting of oxygen produced via photosynthesis have been observed. These life-like specimens include thousands of lichen-mushroom-shaped structures with thin stems, attached to rocks, topped by bulbous caps, and oriented skyward similar to photosynthesizing organisms. If these specimens are living, fossilized or abiogenic is unknown. If biological, they may be producing and replenishing atmospheric oxygen. Abiogenic processes might also contribute to oxygenation via sublimation and seasonal melting of subglacial water-ice deposits coupled with UV splitting of water molecules; a process of abiogenic photosynthesis that could have significantly depleted oceans of water and subsurface ice over the last 4.5 billion years.

中文翻译：

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火星：生命、冰下海洋、非生物光合作用、季节性增加和大气氧的补充

摘要 综述了火星大气氧的发现和后续研究。游离氧是由光合作用生物产生的生物标志物。氧气是反应性的，火星上的氧气可能会在 10 年内被破坏并不断补充。已经记录了昼夜和春季/夏季氧气的增加，这些变化与地球上生物引起的波动平行。维京生物实验的数据也支持活性生物学，尽管这些结果存在争议。虽然没有确凿的证据证明火星上现在或过去有生命存在，但已经检测到有机物，并且观察到类似于绿藻/蓝藻、地衣、叠层石以及用于排放光合作用产生的氧气的开孔和窗孔的标本。这些栩栩如生的标本包括数以千计的地衣蘑菇状结构，茎细长，附着在岩石上，顶部有球状帽，朝向天空，类似于光合作用的生物。这些标本是活的、化石的还是非生物的尚不清楚。如果是生物，它们可能会产生和补充大气中的氧气。非生物过程也可能通过冰下水冰沉积物的升华和季节性融化以及水分子的紫外线分裂来促进氧化；在过去的 45 亿年里，一种非生物光合作用的过程可能会显着消耗海洋的水和地下冰。化石或非生物的未知。如果是生物，它们可能会产生和补充大气中的氧气。非生物过程也可能通过冰下水冰沉积物的升华和季节性融化以及水分子的紫外线分裂来促进氧化；在过去的 45 亿年里，一种非生物光合作用的过程可能会显着消耗海洋的水和地下冰。化石或非生物的未知。如果是生物，它们可能会产生和补充大气中的氧气。非生物过程也可能通过冰下水冰沉积物的升华和季节性融化以及水分子的紫外线分裂来促进氧化；在过去的 45 亿年里，一种非生物光合作用的过程可能会显着消耗海洋的水和地下冰。