Using Biogenic Sulfur Gases as Remotely Detectable Biosignatures on Anoxic Planets
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We used one-dimensional photochemical and radiative transfer models to study the potential of organic sulfur compounds (CS(2), OCS, CH(3)SH, CH(3)SCH(3), and CH(3)S(2)CH(3)) to act as remotely detectable biosignatures in anoxic exoplanetary atmospheres. Concentrations of organic sulfur gases were predicted for various biogenic sulfur fluxes into anoxic atmospheres and were found to increase with decreasing UV fluxes. Dimethyl sulfide (CH(3)SCH(3), or DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (CH(3)S(2)CH(3), or DMDS) concentrations could increase to remotely detectable levels, but only in cases of extremely low UV fluxes, which may occur in the habitable zone of an inactive M dwarf. The most detectable feature of organic sulfur gases is an indirect one that results from an increase in ethane (C(2)H(6)) over that which would be predicted based on the planet's methane (CH(4)) concentration. Thus, a characterization mission could detect these organic sulfur gases-and therefore the life that produces them-if it could sufficiently quantify the ethane and methane in the exoplanet's atmosphere.
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Ethane could be indicative of a biological flux of organic compounds into the atmosphere and could be useful in determining the biogenicity of a methane signature.
“Ethane could be indicative of a biological flux of organic compounds into the atmosphere and could be useful in determining the biogenicity of a methane signature (Domagal-Goldman et al., 2011).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Domagal-Goldman et al., 2011
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“…surface fluxes to adjust dynamically in response to UV-induced chemical changes, unlike fixed mixing ratios, which assume constant concentrations and cannot fully capture atmospheric sensitivities (Segura et al. 2003, 2005, 2007, Domagal-Goldman et al. 2011, 2014, Arney et al. 2017, Arney 2019).”
- Authors
- Domagal-Goldman, S. D., Meadows, V. S., Claire, M. W., & Kasting, J. F.
- Affiliations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)
- NASA Astrobiology Institute (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Domagal-Goldman, Shawn D.
- Venue
- Astrobiology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 419-441
- ISSN
- 1531-1074 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-8070
- PMC
- PMC3133782
- OpenAlex
- W1975375484
- Cited by
- 191
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Astrobiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (NNA09DA76A)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NNA09DA76A, NNH05ZDA001C)
- University of Washington
- NASA Astrobiology Institute (#NNA09DA76A)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Keywords
- biosignatures, organosulfur compounds, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, methanethiol, exoplanet characterization, UV flux, M dwarf habitable zone, ethane, methane, photochemical modeling, radiative transfer modeling
- MeSH terms
- Absorption, Anaerobiosis, Atmosphere, Extraterrestrial Environment, Gases, Sulfur, Thermodynamics, Solar System, Planets, Exobiology, Life
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