Anomalous nitrogen isotope ratio in comets.
نویسندگان
چکیده
High-resolution spectra of the CN B2 summation operator +-X2 summation operator + (0,0) band at 390 nanometers yield isotopic ratios for comets C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) and C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) as follows: 165 +/- 40 and 115 +/- 20 for 12C/13C, 140 +/- 35 and 140 +/- 30 for 14N/15N. Our N isotopic measurements are lower than the terrestrial 14N/15N = 272 and the ratio for Hale-Bopp from measurements of HCN, the presumed parent species of CN. This isotopic anomaly suggests the existence of other parent(s) of CN, with an even lower N isotopic ratio. Organic compounds like those found in interplanetary dust particles are good candidates.
منابع مشابه
Nitrogen isotope variations and environmental perturbations during Cenomanian-Turonian transition in the NE Tethyan realm, Koppeh-Dagh basin
The Cenomanian-Turonian Gharesu section in the east of Kopet-Dagh basin have been investigated to determine the relationship between palaeoenvironmental perturbations and nitrogen cycling across OAE2. This succession is composed of 43 m shale and marl interbedded with glauconitic sandstone and lies between Aitamir-Abderaz formations boundary. The nitrogen Isotope values fluctuate between 0‰ to ...
متن کاملJu n 20 09 New constraints on the delivery of cometary water and nitrogen to Earth from the 15 N / 14 N isotopic ratio
New independent constraints on the amount of water delivered to Earth by comets are derived using the N/N isotopic ratio, measured to be roughly twice as high in cometary CN and HCN as in the present Earth. Under reasonable assumptions, we find that no more than a few percent of Earth’s water can be attributed to comets, in agreement with the constraints derived from D/H. Our results also sugge...
متن کاملIsotopic abundances of carbon and nitrogen in Jupiter-family and Oort Cloud comets
The 12C14N/12C15N and 12C14N/13C14N isotopic ratios are determined for the first time in a Jupiter-family comet, 88P/1981 Q1 Howell, and in the chemically peculiar Oort Cloud comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR). By comparing these measurements to previous ones derived for six other Oort Cloud comets (including one of Halley-type), we find that both the carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios are constant with...
متن کاملObservations of nitrogen isotope fractionation in deeply embedded protostars.
CONTEXT The terrestrial planets, comets, and meteorites are significantly enriched in 15N compared to the Sun and Jupiter. While the solar and jovian nitrogen isotope ratio is believed to represent the composition of the protosolar nebula, a still unidentified process has caused 15N-enrichment in the solids. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the variations, including chemical fra...
متن کاملPhysiological mechanisms influencing plant nitrogen isotope composition.
Whole-plant and leaf nitrogen isotope composition are determined by the isotope ratio of the external nitrogen source and physiological mechanisms within the plant. Whole-plant isotope composition can reflect that of the nitrogen source when plant demand exceeds nitrogen supply. Uptake by mycorrhizae can cause the isotope ratio of the plant to deviate from the source. Intra-plant variation in i...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید
ثبت ناماگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید
ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Science
دوره 301 5639 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2003