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Mars and earth - Origin and abundance of volatilesAn investigation is conducted concerning the factors which are responsible for the tenuous nature of the Martian atmosphere in comparison to the terrestrial atmosphere, taking into account new data obtained in connection with the Viking missions. It is found that Mars was poor in volatiles from the start and fell further behind earth by less complete outgassing, by extensive retrapping, and by the partial loss of lighter gases. Attention is given to noble gases on earth and Mars, the condensation of noble gases and other volatiles, the sources of earth's volatiles, the bulk composition of earth, the release of volatiles from earth, clues to the volatile endowment of Mars, an abundance table for Mars, a comparison of terrestrial and Martian conditions, isotopic data on noble gases, xenon-129 on Mars and earth, possibilities concerning the loss of an early Martian atmosphere, the evolution of the atmosphere of Mars, conditions in the case of planet Venus, and the reasons for the poorness of small planets in volatiles.
Document ID
19780029203
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Anders, E.
(Chicago, University Chicago, Ill., United States)
Owen, T.
(New York, State University Stony Brook, N.Y., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
November 4, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 198
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
78A13112
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-14-001-010
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-10493
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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