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Atomic nitrogen in the upper atmosphere of Venus
Author(s) -
Kasprzak W. T.,
Hedin A. E.,
Niemann H. B.,
Spencer N. W.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl007i001p00106
Subject(s) - nitrogen , venus , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of venus , atomic oxygen , atomic mass , atomic physics , mass spectrometry , thermosphere , reactive nitrogen , oxygen , atomic units , orbiter , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , astrobiology , chemistry , physics , environmental chemistry , meteorology , geophysics , ionosphere , astronomy , organic chemistry , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Atomic nitrogen has been detected in the upper atmosphere of Venus by the Pioneer‐Venus Orbiter Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ONMS). Surface recombination of atomic nitrogen with atomic oxygen to form nitric oxide in the ion source allows it to be detected at mass 30. The scale height temperature of the mass 30 peak agrees with the scale height temperatures of the other species if it is assumed to be derived from atomic nitrogen. The diurnal variation of atomic nitrogen is approximately proportional to that of atomic oxygen with an estimated N/O ratio of 1.5% at 150 km.