CARBON DIOXIDE ON TITAN
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Date
1982
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University
Abstract
The infrared spectra returned by Voyager 1 of the atmosphere of Titan Saturn's largest moon, have shown the presence of eleven gaseous molecular $species.^{1 2 3}$ All of these previously reported species are compounds of hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. We have now identified a feature in the Titan spectra at $657 cm^{-1}$ as being due to the $\nu_{2}$ Q-branch of carbon dioxide. The identification of $CO_{2}$ is based on frequency correspondence between observed spectra and laboratory measurements, and on the elimination of alternative species which might be present in Titan's atmosphere. A mole fraction of $7\times 10^{-10}$ has been determined for $CO_{2}$ from the $667 cm^{-1}$ feature.
Description
$^{1}$R. Hanel. et. al., Science 212, 192 (1981). $^{2}$W.C. Maguire, et. al., Nature 292, 683 (1981). $^{3}$V.G. Kunde, et. al., Nature 292, 686 (1981).