  Thermochemical equilibrium and kinetic calculations for the trace gases CO,
PH3, and SiH4 give three independent constraints on the water and total oxygen
abundances of Saturn's deep atmosphere. A lower limit to the water abundance of
H2O/H2 > 1.7 x 10^-3 is given by CO chemistry while an upper limit of H2O/H2 <
5.5 x 10^-3 is given by PH3 chemistry. A combination of the CO and PH3
constraints indicates a water enrichment on Saturn of 1.9 to 6.1 times the
solar system abundance (H2O/H2 = 8.96 x 10^-4). The total oxygen abundance must
be at least 1.7 times the solar system abundance (O/H2 = 1.16 x 10^-3) in order
for the SiH4 to remain below a detection limit of SiH4/H2 < 2 x 10^-10. A
combination of the CO, PH3, and SiH4 constraints suggests that the total oxygen
abundance on Saturn is 3.2 to 6.4 times the solar system abundance. Our results
indicate that oxygen on Saturn is less enriched than other heavy elements (such
as C and P) relative to a solar system composition. This work was supported by
NASA NAG5-11958.
