Document Detail


Earth's early atmosphere.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11536547     Owner:  NASA     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Ideas about atmospheric composition and climate on the early Earth have evolved considerably over the last 30 years, but many uncertainties still remain. It is generally agreed that the atmosphere contained little or no free oxygen initially and that oxygen concentrations increased markedly near 2.0 billion years ago, but the precise timing of and reasons for its rise remain unexplained. Likewise, it is usually conceded that the atmospheric greenhouse effect must have been higher in the past to offset reduced solar luminosity, but the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases required remain speculative. A better understanding of past atmospheric evolution is important to understanding the evolution of life and to predicting whether Earth-like planets might exist elsewhere in the galaxy.
Authors:
J F Kasting
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Science (New York, N.Y.)     Volume:  259     ISSN:  0036-8075     ISO Abbreviation:  Science     Publication Date:  1993 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1995-06-16     Completed Date:  1995-06-16     Revised Date:  2007-03-19    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0404511     Medline TA:  Science     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  920-6     Citation Subset:  S    
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Atmosphere*
Biogenesis*
Carbon Dioxide / analysis
Climate
Earth (Planet)*
Oceans and Seas
Oxygen / analysis
Ozone
Time Factors
Water
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
10028-15-6/Ozone; 124-38-9/Carbon Dioxide; 7732-18-5/Water; 7782-44-7/Oxygen
Investigator
Investigator/Affiliation:
J F Kasting / Penn St Univ, University Park, Dept Geosciences

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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