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Red clouds in reducing atmospheresA dark reddish-brown high-molecular weight polymer is produced by long wavelength ultraviolet irradiation of abundant gases in reducing planetary atmospheres. The polymer is examined by paper chromatography, mass spectrometry, and infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. High carbon-number straight-chain alkanes with NH2 and, probably, OH and C = O groups are identified, along with amino acids. There are chemical similarities between this polymer and organic compounds recovered from carbonaceous chondrites and precambrian sediments. The visible and near-ultraviolet transmission spectrum of the polymer shows its absorption optical depth to be redder than lambda(-2) and perhaps similar in coloration to the clouds of Jupiter, Saturn, and Titan. The nitrile content is small, and the polymer should be semitransparent in the 5 micrometer atmospheric window. Such polymers may be a common constituent of clouds in the outer solar system and on the early earth.
Document ID
19740032872
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Khare, B. N.
Sagan, C.
(Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y., United States)
Date Acquired
August 7, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1973
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 20
Subject Category
Space Sciences
Accession Number
74A15622
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-010-101
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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