Abstract
VIKING 1 and 2 have collected various data on the amount and composition of the martian atmosphere. The isotopic ratios 15N/14N, 40Ar/36Ar and 129Xe/132Xe have been found to be distinctly different from the terrestrial values1–3. We propose here that the enrichment of 15N amounting to 62% (ref. 4) may be caused by nuclear reactions with intense cosmic rays in the early Solar System. The implications of the ratios 40Ar/36Ar and 129Xe/132Xe are different from that of 15N/14N, because although 40Ar and 129Xe have a long-lived radioactive parent nuclide, 15N does not. These two isotopic ratios may be the results of the initial endowment of the relevant elements, the degree of outgassing from the interior and recondensation or trapping in the surface region.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nier, A. O. et al. Science 194, 68–70 (1976).
Biemann, K. et al. Science 194, 76–77 (1976).
Owen, T. et al. Science 194, 1293–1295 (1976).
Nier, A. O. & McElroy, M. B. J. geophys. Res. 82, 4341–4349 (1977).
Owen, T. et al. J. geophys. Res. 82, 4635–4639 (1977).
Hess, S. L. et al. Science 193, 788–791 (1976).
Andres, E. & Owen, T. Science 198, 453–465 (1977).
Valentin, L. Nucl. Phys. 62, 81–102 (1965).
Furukawa, M. & Tanaka, S. J. phys. Soc. Japan 16, 129 (1961).
Reedy, R. C. & Arnold, J. R. J. geophys. Res. 77, 537–555 (1972).
Strong, A. W. Nature 269, 394 (1977).
Hermsen, W. et al. 12th ESLAB Symp. (ed. Battrick, B.) (ESTEC, Noordwijk, 1977); Nature 269, 494–495 (1977).
Allen, C. W. Astrophysical Quantities 3rd edn, 279 (Athlone, London, 1973).
Masursky, H. et al. J. geophys. Res. 82, 4016–4038 (1977).
Ozima, M. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 39, 1127–1134 (1975).
Voshage, H. Z. Naturf. 22 a, 477–506 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
YANAGITA, S., IMAMURA, M. Excess 15N in the martian atmosphere and cosmic rays in the early Solar System. Nature 274, 234–235 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274234a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/274234a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
