The dynamics of a rapidly escaping atmosphere: Applications to the evolution of Earth and Venus
dc.contributor.author | Watson, Andrew J. | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Donahue, Thomas M. | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Walker, James C. G. | en_US |
dc.date.accessioned | 2006-04-07T18:00:04Z | |
dc.date.available | 2006-04-07T18:00:04Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1981-11 | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | Watson, Andrew J., Donahue, Thomas M., Walker, James C. G. (1981/11)."The dynamics of a rapidly escaping atmosphere: Applications to the evolution of Earth and Venus." Icarus 48(2): 150-166. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/24204> | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WGF-47312X0-PT/2/a557184d4f64d26b61d049c1e863855f | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/24204 | |
dc.description.abstract | A simple, idealized model for the rapid escape of a hydrogen thermosphere provides some quantitative estimates for the energy-limited flux of escaping particles. The model assumes that the atmosphere is "tightly bound" by the gravitational field at lower altitudes, that diffusion through the lower atmosphere does not limit the flux, and that the main source of heating is solar euv. Rather low thermospheric temperatures are typical of such escape and a characteristic minimum develops in the temperature profile as the escape flux approaches its maximum possible value. The flux is limited by the amount of euv energy absorbed, which is in turn controlled by the radial extent of the thermosphere. Regardless of the amount of hydrogen in the thermosphere, the low temperatures accompanying rapid escape limit its extent, and thus constrain the flux. Applied to the Earth and Venus, the results suggest that the escape of hydrogen from these planets would have been energy-limited if their primordial atmospheres contained total hydrogen mixing ratios exceeding a few percent. Hydrogen and deuterium may have been lost in bulk, but heavier elements would have remained in the atmosphere. These results place constraints on hypotheses for the origin of the planets and their subsequent evolution. | en_US |
dc.format.extent | 1065250 bytes | |
dc.format.extent | 3118 bytes | |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.format.mimetype | text/plain | |
dc.language.iso | en_US | |
dc.publisher | Elsevier | en_US |
dc.title | The dynamics of a rapidly escaping atmosphere: Applications to the evolution of Earth and Venus | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |
dc.rights.robots | IndexNoFollow | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevel | Astronomy | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbtoplevel | Science | en_US |
dc.description.peerreviewed | Peer Reviewed | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationum | Space Physics Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationum | Space Physics Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationum | Space Physics Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA | en_US |
dc.description.bitstreamurl | http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24204/1/0000463.pdf | en_US |
dc.identifier.doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(81)90101-9 | en_US |
dc.identifier.source | Icarus | en_US |
dc.owningcollname | Interdisciplinary and Peer-Reviewed |
Files in this item
Remediation of Harmful Language
The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.
Accessibility
If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.