Stability of ammonia in the primitive terrestrial atmosphere

Kasting, James F.

doi:10.1029/jc087ic04p03091

Cited by 140Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsOrigins and Evolution of LifeAtmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Stability of ammonia in the primitive terrestrial atmosphere

Kasting, James F.·1982·Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans

DOI 10.1029/jc087ic04p03091

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Abstract

A one‐dimensional photochemical model is used to calculate the rate at which ammonia would have been destroyed in the earth's atmosphere for assumed NH3 mixing ratios of 10−8 to 10−4. The calculated NH3 destruction rates are then compared with possible abiotic and biotic sources for ammonia. Abiotic sources were probably sufficient to maintain the NH3 mixing ratio of 10−8 needed for life to have evolved but were too small to sustain the mixing ratios of 10−5 or more necessary to produce significant greenhouse warming. The atmospheric ammonia concentration may have increased during the Archean as a result of biological activities but probably remained below the level required to generate measurable thermal effects.

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NH3 levels of 10 to 100 ppmv cannot be sustained against UV photolysis.
“Ammonia (NH3) levels of 10 to 100 ppmv would provide a greenhouse effect to counteract the faint young Sun (FYS) (14), but these levels of NH3 cannot be sustained against UV photolysis (161).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [161]
Highly reduced gases such as CH4 or NH3 are dissociated by photolysis due to the high XUV flux of the young Sun and by reactions with OH and O radicals produced from the photolysis of H2O and CO2.
“Highly reduced gases such as CH 4 or NH 3 are also dissociated by photolysis due to the high XUV flux of the young Sun and by reactions with OH and O radicals produced from the photolysis of H 2 O and CO 2 molecules (Kuhn and Atreya 1979; Kasting 1982; Kasting 1993; Zahnle et al. 2010; Wordsworth 2016).”
From The young Sun's XUV-activity as a constraint for lower CO2-limits in the Earth's Archean atmosphere (2021) · cites this paper as Kasting 1982

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“However, the partial pressure of NH3 would be very small because of photodissociation of NH3 (e.g., Kasting, 1982) though there is still a possibility that organic haze could shield NH3 from ultraviolet light (Sagan & Chyba, 1997) .”
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“Highly reduced gases such as CH4 or NH3 are also dissociated by photolysis due to the high XUV flux of the young Sun and by reactions with OH and O radicals produced from the photolysis of H2O and CO2 molecules (Kuhn and Atreya 1979; Kasting 1982; Kasting 1993; Zahnle et al. 2010; Wordsworth 2016).”
Background
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Authors: Kasting, J. F.
Affiliations: Ames Research Center (US)
Corresponding author: Kasting, James F.
ORCID: Kasting, James F.
Venue: Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published: 1982-04-20
Volume: 87
Issue: C4
Pages: 3091-3098
ISSN: 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1029/jc087ic04p03091
OpenAlex: W2033191700
Cited by: 140
References: 58
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
FWCI: 10.25
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 11111 d)
Locations: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Keywords: ammonia, early Earth atmosphere, atmospheric chemistry, global warming, Archean atmosphere, early Earth, photochemical modeling, atmospheric mixing ratios

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Stability of ammonia in the primitive terrestrial atmosphere

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