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Nitrogen Isotopic Ratio in Jupiter's Atmosphere from Observations by Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) on the Cassini SpacecraftThe Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) on the Cassini spacecraft made infrared observations of Jupiter's atmosphere during the flyby in December 2000 to January 2001. The unique database in the 600-1400/cm region with 0.53 and 2.8/cm spectral resolutions obtained from the observations permits retrieval of global maps of the thermal structure and composition of Jupiter's atmosphere including the distributions of (14)NH3 and (15)NH3. Analysis of Jupiter's ammonia distributions from three isolated (15)NH3 spectral lines in eight latitudes is presented for evaluation of the nitrogen isotopic ratio. The nitrogen isotopic ratio (14)N/(15)N (or (15)N/(14)N) in Jupiter's atmosphere in this analysis is calculated to be: 448 +/- 62 ((2.23 +/- 0.31) x 10(exp -3)). This value of the ratio determined from CIRS data is found to be in very close agreement with the value previously obtained from the measurements by the Galileo Probe Mass Spectrometer. Some possible mechanisms to account for the variation of Jupiter's observed isotopic ratio relative to various astrophysical environments are discussed.
Document ID
20040000202
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Abbas, M. M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
LeClair, A.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Owen, T.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Conrath, B. J.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Flasar, F. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kunde, V. G.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Nixon, C. A..
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Achterberg, R. K.
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham, MD, United States)
Bjoraker, G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Jennings, D. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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