Revisiting HCN formation in Earth's early atmosphere
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N atoms from N2 photolysis in the upper atmosphere can mix to lower levels and react with CH4 photolysis products to make HCN.
“In particular, N atoms from N2 photolysis in the upper atmosphere can mix to lower levels and react with CH4 photolysis products to make HCN (166, 167).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [167]
At Archean biogenic methane levels of ~10^3 ppmv, HCN concentrations reach ~10^2 ppmv.
“At Archean biogenic methane levels of ~103 ppmv, HCN concentrations reach ~102 ppmv.”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [167]
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- Authors
- Tian, F., Kasting, J. F., & Zahnle, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Tian, Feng
- Venue
- Earth and Planetary Science Letters
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-08
- Volume
- 308
- Issue
- 3-4
- Pages
- 417-423
- ISSN
- 0012-821X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2043542685
- Cited by
- 143
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Earth and Planetary Science Letters (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NNX10AR17G)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- hydrogen cyanide, early Earth atmosphere, methane, photochemical modeling, prebiotic synthesis, carbon dioxide, origin of life, photochemistry
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