The evolution of atmospheric ozone
Abstract
A one‐dimensional coupled chemistry and flow model of the earth's atmosphere is used to study the relationship between ozone content and oxygen level. The effects of the biogenic trace gases methane and nitrous oxide are considered, as well as the production of odd nitrogen in lightning discharges. The ozone column depth is found to increase monotonically with increasing oxygen content, in contrast with previous predictions that the column depth should peak at ∼10−1 PAL (present atmospheric level) of O 2. The critical O 2 level at which an effective ultraviolet shield is produced is in the neighborhood of 10−1 PAL. Implications of this result for the emergence of terrestrial land life are considered.
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Ultraviolet shielding by O2/O3 becomes effective above ~1% O2.
“Ultraviolet shielding by O2/O3 becomes effective above ∼1% O2 (Kasting and Donahue, 1980).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Kasting and Donahue, 1980
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References 76 · Cited by 165
- Authors
- Kasting, J. F., & Donahue, T. M.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 1980-06-20
- Volume
- 85
- Issue
- C6
- Pages
- 3255-3263
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1997984615
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 7.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
- Keywords
- oxygen concentration, methane, nitrous oxide, odd nitrogen, lightning discharge, atmospheric chemistry modeling, early Earth atmosphere
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