Cited by 144Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsGeological and Geochemical AnalysisAstro and Planetary Science

Geological sulfur isotopes indicate elevated OCS in the Archean atmosphere, solving faint young sun paradox

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Ueno, Yuichiro, Johnson, Matthew S., Danielache, Sebastian O., Eskebjerg, Carsten, Pandey, Antra, Yoshida, Naohiro·2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Distributions of sulfur isotopes in geological samples would provide a record of atmospheric composition if the mechanism producing the isotope effects could be described quantitatively. We determined the UV absorption spectra of 32 SO 2 , 33 SO 2 , and 34 SO 2 and use them to interpret the geological record. The calculated isotopic fractionation factors for SO 2 photolysis give mass independent distributions that are highly sensitive to the atmospheric concentrations of O 2 , O 3 , CO 2 , H 2 O, CS 2 , NH 3 , N 2 O, H 2 S, OCS, and SO 2 itself. Various UV-shielding scenarios are considered and we conclude that the negative Δ 33 S observed in the Archean sulfate deposits can only be explained by OCS shielding. Of relevant Archean gases, OCS has the unique ability to prevent SO 2 photolysis by sunlight at λ >202 nm. Scenarios run using a photochemical box model show that ppm levels of OCS will accumulate in a CO-rich, reducing Archean atmosphere. The radiative forcing, due to this level of OCS, is able to resolve the faint young sun paradox. Further, the decline of atmospheric OCS may have caused the late Archean glaciation.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.0903518106

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37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • OCS has been suggested as an Archean greenhouse gas because UV photolysis of OCS was posited to explain observed relationships in S-MIF.

    “Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) has been suggested as an Archean greenhouse gas because UV photolysis of OCS was posited to explain observed relationships in S-MIF (219).”

    From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [219]

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Authors
Ueno, Y., Johnson, M. S., Danielache, S. O., Eskebjerg, C., Pandey, A., & Yoshida, N.
Affiliations
  • Tokyo Institute of Technology (JP)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2009-09
Volume
106
Issue
35
Pages
14784-14789
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2119121399
Cited by
144
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
FWCI
7.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
  • Tokyo Tech Research Repository (Tokyo Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19740310)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
Keywords
sulfur isotopes, Archean atmosphere, faint young Sun paradox, carbonyl sulfide, OCS, UV absorption spectra, isotope fractionation, UV protection, photochemical box model, radiative forcing

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