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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Automated, High-resolution Mobile Collection System for the Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of NOx
Published on: December 20, 2016
Isotopic composition of nitrogen: implications for the past history of mars' atmosphere
Abstract:
Models are presented for the past history of nitrogen on Mars based on Viking measurements showing that the atmosphere is enriched in (15)N. The enrichment is attributed to selective escape, with fast atoms formed in the exosphere by electron impact dissociation of N(2) and by dissociative recombination of N(2)(+). The initial partial pressure of N(2) should have been at least as large as several millibars and could have been as large as 30 millibars if surface processes were to represent an important sink for atmospheric HNO(2) and HNO(3).
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