Comparative planetology of the history of nitrogen isotopes in the atmospheres of Titan and Mars

Abstract

We present here a comparative planetology study of evolution of 14 N/ 15 N at Mars and Titan. Studies show that 14 N/ 15 N can evolve a great deal as a result of escape in the atmosphere of Mars, but not in Titan's atmosphere. We explain this through the existence of an upper limit to the amount of fractionation allowed to occur due to escape that is a function of the escape flux and the column density of nitrogen.