It is interesting that if all the carbon dioxide in terrestrial limestones were released into earth s atmosphere the earth would have just as much atmospheric carbon dioxide as Venus. Mars is a different story. These made for an early, potent greenhouse effect. Mars original water eroded the planet s surface and left behind the now dry watercourses of vast river systems - features prominently seen in images obtained by several space probes to Mars. Prior to Ray s establishment of carbon dioxide clouds as a mechanism for surface warming on Mars, no one had successfully explained how it could be that liquid water had been available on the surface, because Mars is far enough from the sun that surface water should exist as ice.
Today there is no liquid water and no carbon dioxide clouds.
Ray is now interested in the long term evolution of the Martian atmosphere - modeled with and without the effects of life. It is a collaborative effort with about 30 individuals from many fields of expertise on the UC campus and in the Chicago region. Ray is a very personable fellow. He has a fine ability to explain the complexities of atmospheric dynamics in straightforward terms. As the repercussions of global warming enter more and more into our consciousness, we will be hearing more from him - in language we can understand.