Post-Viking Biological Investigations of Mars (1977) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Pages 1-2
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
A negative result may terminate the search for extraterrestrial life as a motivation for planetary exploration, although interest will remain in the organic chemistry of the solar system." They went on to conclude that "most of the conceivable outcomes of Viking are likely to be viewed as ambiguous or unconvincing," and that "It is difficult to plan responses for this contingency since much depends on the precise nature of the ambiguity."1' P- 172 Much of the Viking data is now in hand, and we are charged with evaluating its biological significance and making recommendations for post-Viking biological investigations of Mars in the next decade. The evaluation is dealt with in Part I; the strategic considerations in Part II; and our recommendations in Part III.
|
From page 2... ...
Atmospheric pollutants may affect the ozone layer and could modify the Earth's albedo. The burning of fossil fuels has already measurably increased the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere, and some scenarios predict serious and even devastating consequences if major fractions of our energy requirements continue to be derived from these sources.2 Clearly the stability of equilibria and steady-state processes on the Earth's surface and in its atmosphere to human perturbants, and the role of the Earth's biota in this stability are matters of more than arcane interest.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.