Exchange of condensed matter among the outer and terrestrial protoplanets and the effect on surface impact and atmospheric accretion

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(88)90030-9· OSTI ID:6990387

Ip, W H; Fernandez, J A

The potential contribution of volatile material to planetary atmospheres from comet impact is presently estimated on the basis of a scenario of extensive gravitational scattering of icy planetesimals from the other planets and cometary nuclei in the early and late phase of the bombardment process. In the earth's case, the cometary water is sufficient to compete with the water contained in the nonvolatile planetesimals condensed in the region of the terrestrial planets; the same consideration could be applied to Mars and Venus, although it is not yet clear how the cometary chemical compositions may have affected the evolution of early planetary atmospheres. 52 references.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Aeronomie, Katlenburg-Lindau (Germany, F.R.)
• OSTI ID: 6990387
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Vol. 74
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH PLANET
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
MARS PLANET
VENUS PLANET
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLLISIONS
COMETS
NEPTUNE PLANET
PLANET-SYSTEM ACCRETION
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PROTOPLANETS
SATELLITES
URANUS PLANET
WATER
ATMOSPHERES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena