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Deuterium on Mars: the abundance of HDO and the value of D/H

Journal Article · · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)
Deuterium on Mars has been detected by the resolution of several Doppler-shifted lines of HDO near 3.7 micrometers in the planet's spectrum. The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen is (9 +/- 4) x 10/sup -4/; the abundance of H/sub 2/O was derived from lines near 1.1 micrometers. This ratio is enriched on Mars over the telluric value by a factor of 6 +/- 3. The enrichment implies that hydrogen escaped more rapidly from Mars in the past than it does now, consistent with a dense and warm ancient atmosphere on the planet. 30 references, 2 figures.
Research Organization:
State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook (USA)
OSTI ID:
6594167
Journal Information:
Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 240; ISSN SCIEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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