Publications by authors named "F Woeller"
Gas chromatography has found highly successful application in NASA's flight programs. Gas chromatographs have been flown to both Mars and Venus where detailed compositional measurements were made. These instruments were quite small and relatively sensitive when compared to commercially available instruments; however, they do not appear adequate for future missions currently being planned.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMisidentification of two peaks from the Pioneer Venus sounder probe gas chromatograph (SPGC), also formerly known as the LGC, gave rise to quantitative errors in the abundances of oxygen, argon, and carbon monoxide. The argon abundance is estimated at 67 parts per million and that of carbon monoxide at 20 parts per million. At this time, no estimates for the oxygen abundance can be made.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Laboratory tests on the Pioneer Venus gas chromatograph show that the sensitivity to argon remains intact after regenerating the column and confirms no production of oxygen or sulfur dioxide from sulfur trioxide.
- Argon isotopes are not separated, and sulfur trioxide doesn't form from either sulfur dioxide or oxygen, indicating stable chemical behavior in the system.
- Comparisons suggest that while early outgassing is similar for Venus and Earth, Venus experiences lower efficiency in later outgassing, and the highly oxidized atmosphere could hinder the formation of elemental sulfur particles.
Article Synopsis
- The first gas chromatographic analysis of Venus's lower atmosphere was conducted, revealing a composition primarily consisting of carbon dioxide (96.4%) and a mix of other gases.
- The detected levels of water vapor and sulfur dioxide support greenhouse models explaining Venus's extreme surface temperatures.
- The findings suggest a significant gradient of sulfur dioxide, molecular oxygen, and water vapor in the clouds, supporting the idea of aqueous sulfuric acid presence, and indicate shared inert gases among Venus, Earth, and Mars due to outgassing from their interiors.
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzes how gases like N2, Ar, O2, and CO2 are released from Martian soil based on humidity levels and how these correlate with Martian atmospheric water vapor.
- O2 release is linked to specific chemical compounds in the soil, while CO2 evolution is tied to organic oxidation, indicating complex chemical interactions happening on Mars.
- The research suggests that Martian surface activity is influenced by the interaction of soil particles with a dry CO2 atmosphere and is altered by occasional water exposure, needing further Martian exploration for validation.