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The composition of the atmosphere at the surface of MarsThe current status is summarized of investigations of the composition of the Martian atmosphere, in which use was made of the mass spectrometers that function as the analytical component of the molecular analysis experiments on the two Viking landers. The following points seem well established: N2, Ar-40, Ne, Kr, Xe, and the primordial isotope of Ar are present. The present atmosphere of Mars represents only a small fraction of the total amount of volatiles outgassed by the planet, so that high surface pressure and abundant water may have been present. The noble gases in the Martian atmosphere exhibit a relative abundance pattern similar to that in the earth's atmosphere and (except for Xe) to that in the primordial component of meteorites. The existence of a 'planetary component' is thus proven, supporting the arguments of those who favor a fractionation of noble gases prior to the formation of the planets. In spite of these similarities, the isotopic ratios of nitrogen, argon, and xenon indicate that the histories of the Martian and the earth's atmospheres have been very different.
Document ID
19780027537
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Owen, T.
(New York, State University Stony Brook, N.Y., United States)
Biemann, K.
(State Univ. of New York Stony Brook, NY, United States)
Biller, J. E.
(State Univ. of New York Stony Brook, NY, United States)
Lafleur, A. L.
(MIT Cambridge, Mass., United States)
Rushneck, D. R.
(Interface, Inc. Fort Collins, Colo., United States)
Howarth, D. W.
(Litton Industries, Guidance and Control Systems Div., Woodland Hills Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
September 30, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 82
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
78A11446
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-10493
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-9684
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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