The Production of Nitrogen Atoms on Mars and their Escape

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1980

Abstract

Quantitative calculations of the escape rate of nitrogen by photodissociation and photoionization, by photoelectron impact processes, by chemical reactions and by dissociative recombination are reported. It is shown that the predicted present escape rate of 2.0 × 105 atoms cm−2 S−1 is consistent with the measured 15N/14N isotope ratio. A minimum of 4.0 × 1022 cm−2 S−1 is obtained for the initial reservoir of N2. The production rates of N(4S) and N(2D) atoms in the atmosphere are obtained and the altitude profile of N(2D) is calculated.

DOI

10.1016/0032-0633(80)90102-6,

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