Computer Science
Scientific paper
Jan 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996adspr..18..241m&link_type=abstract
Advances in Space Research, Volume 18, Issue 12, p. 241-248.
Computer Science
7
Scientific paper
Nitrogen is an essential element for life. Specifically, ``fixed nitrogen'' (i.e., NH_3, NH_4^+, NO_x, or N that is chemically bound to either inorganic or organic molecules and is releasable by hydrolysis to NH_3 or NH_4^+) is the form of nitrogen useful to living organisms. To date no direct analysis of Martian soil nitrogen content, or content of fixed nitrogen compounds has been done. Consequently, the planet's total inventory of nitrogen is unknown. What is known is that the N_2 content of the present-day Martian atmosphere is ~0.2 mbar. It has been hypothesized that early in Mars' history (3 to 4 billion years ago) the Martian atmosphere contained much more N_2 than it does today. The values of N_2 proposed for this early Martian atmosphere, however, are not well constrained and range from 3 to 300 mbar of N_2. If the early atmosphere of Mars did contain much more N_2 than it does today the question to be answered is, Where did it go? The two main processes that could have removed it rapidly from the atmosphere include: 1) nonthermal escape of N-atoms to space; and 2) burial within the regolith as nitrates and nitrites. Nitrate will be stable in the highly oxidized surface soil of Mars, and will tend to accumulate in the soil. Such accumulations are observed in certain desert environments on Earth. Some NH_4^+-N may also be fixed and stabilized in the soil by inclusion as a structural cation in the crystal lattices of certain phyllosilicates replacing K. Analysis of the Martian soil for traces of NO_3^- and NH_4^+ during future missions will supply important information regarding the nitrogen abundance on Mars, its past climate as well as its potential for the evolution of life.
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