The Atmosphere of Mars near the Surface: Isotope Ratios and Upper Limits on Noble Gases (original) (raw)

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K. Biemann, T. Owen, D. R. Rushneck, A. L. LaFleur, and D. W. HowarthAuthors Info & Affiliations

Science

1 Oct 1976

Vol 194, Issue 4260

pp. 76-78

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Abstract

Several new analyses of the martian atmosphere have been carried out with the mass spectrometer in the molecular analysis experiment. The ratios of abundant isotopes of carbon and oxygen are within 10 percent of terrestrial values, whereas nitrogen-15 is considerably enriched on Mars. We have detected argon-38 and set new limits on abundances of krypton and xenon. The limit on krypton is sufficiently low to suggest that the inventories of volatile substances on Mars and on Earth may be distinctly different.

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References

BIEMANN, K, SEARCH FOR ORGANIC AND VOLATILE INORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN 2 SURFACE SAMPLES FROM CHRYSE-PLANITIA REGION OF MARS, SCIENCE 194: 72 (1976).

Maguire, W. C., Icarus 32: 85 (1977).

NIER, A.O., ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE, SCIENCE 194: 68 (1976).

OWEN, T, COMPOSITION OF ATMOSPHERE AT SURFACE OF MARS - DETECTION OF ARGON-36 AND PRELIMINARY-ANALYSIS, SCIENCE 193: 801 (1976).

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