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Published October 1, 1976 | public
Journal Article

Isotopic Composition of Nitrogen: Implications for the Past History of Mars' Atmosphere

Abstract

Models are presented for the past history of nitrogen on Mars based on Viking measurements showing that the atmosphere is enriched in ^(15)N. The enrichment is attributed to selective escape, with fast atoms formed in the exosphere by electron impact dissociation of N_2 and by dissociative recombination of N_2+. The initial partial pressure of N_2 should have been at least as large as several millibars and could have been as large as 30 millibars if surface processes were to represent an important sink for atmospheric HNO_2 and HNO_3.

Additional Information

© 1976 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Received 2 September 1976. Supported by NASA contracts NAS-1-9697 and NAS-1-10492 to the University of Minnesota and Harvard University, respectively.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 17, 2023