1993/02/12 by D. M. Hunten · 144 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrobiology #Astronomy #Atmosphere (unit) #Atmosphere of Mars #Atmosphere of Venus #Atmospheric escape #Billion years #Earth (classical element) #Environmental science #Galaxy #Geology #Mars Exploration Program #Martian #Meteorite #Meteoroid #Meteorology #Physics #Planet #Planetary Science and Exploration #Solar System #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Terrestrial planet #Venus
paper · doi:10.1126/science.259.5097.915
published in Science 259(5097), 915-920 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
openalex publication_date 1993/02/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
The major atmospheric gases on Earth, Venus, and Mars were probably CO 2 , H 2 O, and N 2 . Most of the Earth's CO 2 is tied up in minerals such as limestone, and Venus has lost most of its H 2 O, leaving the CO 2 in the atmosphere. Much of Mars' atmosphere may have been eroded in impacts by large meteoroids early in solar-system history. Noble gases are very underabundant everywhere, and must have been lost during an early period; they were probably dragged along during rapid loss of massive amounts of hydrogen. The tenuous atmospheres of Mercury and the moon have lifetimes of a few days or less and must be continuously replenished from internal or external sources.