The DOI matches its Crossref record; 142 of the 148 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Earth's Earliest Atmospheres
Open accessAbstract
Earth is the one known example of an inhabited planet and to current knowledge the likeliest site of the one known origin of life. Here we discuss the origin of Earth's atmosphere and ocean and some of the environmental conditions of the early Earth as they may relate to the origin of life. A key punctuating event in the narrative is the Moon-forming impact, partly because it made Earth for a short time absolutely uninhabitable, and partly because it sets the boundary conditions for Earth's subsequent evolution. If life began on Earth, as opposed to having migrated here, it would have done so after the Moon-forming impact. What took place before the Moon formed determined the bulk properties of the Earth and probably determined the overall compositions and sizes of its atmospheres and oceans. What took place afterward animated these materials. One interesting consequence of the Moon-forming impact is that the mantle is devolatized, so that the volatiles subsequently fell out in a kind of condensation sequence. This ensures that the volatiles were concentrated toward the surface so that, for example, the oceans were likely salty from the start. We also point out that an atmosphere generated by impact degassing would tend to have a composition reflective of the impacting bodies (rather than the mantle), and these are almost without exception strongly reducing and volatile-rich. A consequence is that, although CO- or methane-rich atmospheres are not necessarily stable as steady states, they are quite likely to have existed as long-lived transients, many times. With CO comes abundant chemical energy in a metastable package, and with methane comes hydrogen cyanide and ammonia as important albeit less abundant gases.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Besides the main atmospheric species CO 2 and N 2 there is much evidence that H 2 O and biogenic CH 4 were most likely also present around 2.6 - 2.8 Ga (Hinrichs 2002; Zahnle et al. 2010; Zerkle et al. 2012; Lammer et al. 2018).”
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 Zahnle et al. 2010
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Geochemical and isotopic evidence suggests that the atmosphere of the post-Moon forming impact Earth was more neutral rather than completely reducing (Holland 1984;Sleep 2010;Zahnle et al. 2010).”
From The Emergence of Life (2019) · cites this paper as Zahnle et al. 2010
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“In particular, Earth's early atmosphere formed via volcanic degassing (see Section 3.2.2), which would have provided N2, CO2, and water, with small quantities of H2, CO, and CH4, and negligible amounts of O2 (Zahnle et al., 2010).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Zahnle et al., 2010
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“The current consensus, however, is that the early atmosphere as a stable steady state most likely would have been largely neutral, comprised primarily of CO2 and N2, although more reducing atmospheres could have existed transiently [59,60].”
From Prebiotic Reaction Networks in Water (2020) · cites this paper as [60]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions
Miller, S. L. (1953) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.117.3046.528 · Cited by 3,522
The Chemical Evolution of the Atmosphere and Oceans
Holland, H. D. (1984) · doi:10.1515/9780691220239 · Cited by 1,836
Organic Compound Synthesis on the Primitive Earth
Miller, S. L., & Urey, H. C. (1959) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.130.3370.245 · Cited by 1,403
Synthesis of activated pyrimidine ribonucleotides in prebiotically plausible conditions.
Powner, M. W., Gerland, B., & Sutherland, J. D. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08013 · Cited by 1,383
Kasting, J. F. (1993) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.11536547 · Cited by 1,374
Chyba, C., & Sagan, C. (1992) · Nature · doi:10.1038/355125a0 · Cited by 1,321
Origin of the Moon in a giant impact near the end of the Earth's formation
Canup, R. M., & Asphaug, E. (2001) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35089010 · Cited by 1,094
Ringwood, A. E. (1979) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-6167-4 · Cited by 1,050
THE EARLY HISTORY OF ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN: Homage to Robert M. Garrels
Canfield, D. E. (2005) · Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences · doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122711 · Cited by 1,032
Ozima, M., & Podosek, F. A. (2001) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511545986 · Cited by 1,021
Earth and Mars: evolution of atmospheres and surface temperatures
Sagan, C., & Mullen, G. (1972) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.177.4043.52 · Cited by 942
Volcanic gases, black smokers, and the great oxidation event
Holland, H. D. (2002) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(02)00950-x · Cited by 920
Source regions and timescales for the delivery of water to the Earth
Morbidelli, A., Chambers, J., Lunine, J. I., Petit, J. M., Robert, F., Valsecchi, G. B., & Cyr, K. E. (2000) · Meteoritics & Planetary Science · doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2000.tb01518.x · Cited by 881
Production of Some Organic Compounds under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions1
Miller, S. L. (1955) · Journal of the American Chemical Society · doi:10.1021/ja01614a001 · Cited by 827
Jupiter: the planet, satellites and magnetosphere
(2005) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.42-5246 · Cited by 805
The Maximum Intensity of Hurricanes
Emanuel, K. (1988) · Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences · doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1988)045 · Cited by 773
Osmium isotopic compositions of mantle xenoliths: a global perspective
Meisel, T., Walker, R. J., Irving, A. J., & Lorand, J.-P. (2001) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(00)00566-4 · Cited by 715
Groundworks for an evolutionary biochemistry: The iron-sulphur world
Wächtershäuser, G. (1992) · Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/0079-6107(92)90022-x · Cited by 677
D'Antona, F. A., & Mazzitelli, I. (1994) · The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · doi:10.1086/191867 · Cited by 672
Simulations of a late lunar-forming impact
Canup, R. M. (2004) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.09.028 · Cited by 669
Fluctuations in Precambrian atmospheric oxygenation recorded by chromium isotopes
Frei, R., Gaucher, C., Poulton, S. W., & Canfield, D. E. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08266 · Cited by 653
Bronowski, J. (1973) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 651
Borate Minerals Stabilize Ribose
Ricardo, A., Carrigan, M. A., Olcott, A. N., & Benner, S. A. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1092464 · Cited by 646
The origin of the Moon and the single-impact hypothesis III
Benz, W., Cameron, A. G. W., & Melosh, H. J. (1989) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(89)90129-2 · Cited by 645
Carbon dioxide cycling and implications for climate on ancient Earth
Sleep, N. H., & Zahnle, K. (2001) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets · doi:10.1029/2000je001247 · Cited by 592
Self-citationCometary Delivery of Organic Molecules to the Early Earth
Chyba, C. F., Thomas, P. J., Brookshaw, L., & Sagan, C. (1990) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.11538074 · Cited by 577
Evolution of a Habitable Planet
Kasting, J. F., & Catling, D. C. (2003) · Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics · doi:10.1146/annurev.astro.41.071601.170049 · Cited by 566
Heterogeneous Hadean Hafnium: Evidence of Continental Crust at 4.4 to 4.5 Ga
Harrison, T. M., Janne Blichert-toft, B., Müller, W., Albarède, F., Holden, P. N., & Mojzsis, S. J. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1117926 · Cited by 533
On the origin and early evolution of terrestrial planet atmospheres and meteoritic volatiles
Pepin, R. O. (1991) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(91)90036-s · Cited by 516
Volatile accretion history of the terrestrial planets and dynamic implications
Albarède, F. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08477 · Cited by 515
Biogenic Methane, Hydrogen Escape, and the Irreversible Oxidation of Early Earth
Catling, D. C., Zahnle, K. J., & McKay, C. P. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1061976 · Cited by 507
Self-citationOrigin and Evolution of Planetary and Satellite Atmospheres
(1989) · University of Arizona Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv20dsb5m · Cited by 505
On the Early Chemical History of the Earth and the Origin of Life
Urey, H. C. (1952) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.38.4.351 · Cited by 498
Knauth, L. P., & Lowe, D. R. (2003) · Geological Society of America Bulletin · doi:10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115 · Cited by 477
Carbonyl Sulfide-Mediated Prebiotic Formation of Peptides
Leman, L., Orgel, L., & Ghadiri, M. R. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1102722 · Cited by 428
Oparin, A. I., & Morgulis, S. (1938) · Cited by 425
Pre-biotic organic matter from comets and asteroids
Anders, E. (1989) · Nature · doi:10.1038/342255a0 · Cited by 421
CO2 condensation and the climate of early Mars
Kasting, J. F. (1991) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(91)90137-i · Cited by 413
Measured Mass‐Loss Rates of Solar‐like Stars as a Function of Age and Activity
Wood, B. E., Müller, H., Zank, G. P., & Linsky, J. L. (2002) · The Astrophysical Journal · doi:10.1086/340797 · Cited by 411
Ragsdale, S. W. (2004) · Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1080/10409230490496577 · Cited by 405
The Early Faint Sun Paradox: Organic Shielding of Ultraviolet-Labile Greenhouse Gases
Sagan, C., & Chyba, C. (1997) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.276.5316.1217 · Cited by 396
A Hydrogen-Rich Early Earth Atmosphere
Tian, F., Toon, O. B., Pavlov, A. A., & De Sterck, H. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1106983 · Cited by 390
Emergence of a Habitable Planet
Zahnle, K., Arndt, N., Cockell, C., Halliday, A., Nisbet, E., Selsis, F., & Sleep, N. H. (2007) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-007-9225-z · Cited by 380
Self-citationThe Miller volcanic spark discharge experiment
Johnson, A. P., Cleaves, H. J., Dworkin, J. P., Glavin, D. P., Lazcano, A., & Bada, J. L. (2008) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1161527 · Cited by 376
Determining the composition of the Earth
Drake, M., & Righter, K. (2002) · Nature · doi:10.1038/416039a · Cited by 375
Vanadium in peridotites, mantle redox and tectonic environments: Archean to present
Canil, D. (2002) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/s0012-821x(01)00582-9 · Cited by 373
Constitution of terrestrial planets
Wänke, H. (1981) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A Mathematical and Physical Sciences · doi:10.1098/rsta.1981.0203 · Cited by 368
Steroids, triterpenoids and molecular oxygen
Summons, R. E., Bradley, A. S., Jahnke, L. L., & Waldbauer, J. R. (2006) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2006.1837 · Cited by 364
Thermal and chemical evolution of the terrestrial magma ocean
Abe, Y. (1997) · Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors · doi:10.1016/s0031-9201(96)03229-3 · Cited by 347
An Oxygen Isotope Model for the Composition of Mars
Lodders, K., & Fegley, B. (1997) · Icarus · doi:10.1006/icar.1996.5653 · Cited by 344
Self-citationSubmarine hot springs and the origin of life
Miller, S. L., & Bada, J. L. (1988) · Nature · doi:10.1038/334609a0 · Cited by 338
A Reassessment of Prebiotic Organic Synthesis in Neutral Planetary Atmospheres
Cleaves, H. J., Chalmers, J. H., Lazcano, A., Miller, S. L., & Bada, J. L. (2008) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/s11084-007-9120-3 · Cited by 313
Evolution of a steam atmosphere during earth's accretion
Zahnle, K. J., Kasting, J. F., & Pollack, J. B. (1988) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(88)90031-0 · Cited by 309
Self-citationGeochemical constraints on the origin of organic compounds in hydrothermal systems
Shock, E. L. (1990) · Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere · doi:10.1007/bf01808115 · Cited by 299
HCN: A plausible source of purines, pyrimidines and amino acids on the primitive earth
Ferris, J. P., Joshi, P. C., Edelson, E. H., & Lawless, J. (1978) · Journal of Molecular Evolution · doi:10.1007/bf01733839 · Cited by 287
Photochemical Production of Formaldehyde in Earth's Primitive Atmosphere
Pinto, J. P., Gladstone, G. R., & Yung, Y. L. (1980) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.210.4466.183 · Cited by 286
French, B. M. (1966) · Reviews of Geophysics · doi:10.1029/rg004i002p00223 · Cited by 281
Bolide impacts and the oxidation state of carbon in the Earth's early atmosphere
Kasting, J. F. (1990) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf01808105 · Cited by 278
Zahnle, K. J. (1986) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jd091id02p02819 · Cited by 276
Self-citationEnhanced atmospheric loss on protoplanets at the giant impact phase in the presence of oceans
Genda, H., & Abe, Y. (2005) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature03360 · Cited by 275
Organic synthesis during fluid mixing in hydrothermal systems
Shock, E. L., & Schulte, M. D. (1998) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/98je02142 · Cited by 274
CHEMICAL EVENTS ON THE PRIMITIVE EARTH
Abelson, P. H. (1966) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.55.6.1365 · Cited by 270
Redox History of the Earth's Interior since ∼3900 Ma: Implications for Prebiotic Molecules
Delano, J. W. (2001) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1023/a:1011895600380 · Cited by 256
Prebiotic synthesis in atmospheres containing CH4, CO, and CO2
Schlesinger, G., & Miller, S. L. (1983) · Journal of Molecular Evolution · doi:10.1007/bf02101642 · Cited by 256
Stribling, R., & Miller, S. L. (1987) · Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere · doi:10.1007/bf02386466 · Cited by 252
Earth's melting due to the blanketing effect of the primordial dense atmosphere
Hayashi, C., Nakazawa, K., & Mizuno, H. (1979) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/0012-821x(79)90152-3 · Cited by 246
The evolution of solar ultraviolet luminosity
Zahnle, K. J., & Walker, J. C. G. (1982) · Reviews of Geophysics · doi:10.1029/rg020i002p00280 · Cited by 242
Self-citationConstraints on the Mass of a Habitable Planet with Water of Nebular Origin
Ikoma, M., & Genda, H. (2006) · The Astrophysical Journal · doi:10.1086/505780 · Cited by 233
Amino-acid Synthesis from Hydrogen Cyanide under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions
Oro, J. A., & KAMAT, S. S. (1961) · Nature · doi:10.1038/190442a0 · Cited by 232
Initiation of clement surface conditions on the earliest Earth
Sleep, N. H., Zahnle, K., & Neuhoff, P. S. (2001) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.071045698 · Cited by 230
Self-citationEvolution of an impact-induced atmosphere and magma ocean on the accreting Earth
Matsui, T., & Abe, Y. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/319303a0 · Cited by 224
On the Constitution of the Terrestrial Planets
Ramsey, W. H., & Blackett, P. M. S. (1948) · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · doi:10.1093/mnras/108.5.406 · Cited by 210
The origin and development of the earth and other terrestrial planets
Urey, H. C. (1951) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/0016-7037(51)90001-4 · Cited by 206
Ammonia photolysis and the greenhouse effect in the primordial atmosphere of the Earth
Kuhn, W. R., & Atreya, S. K. (1979) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(79)90126-x · Cited by 199
Chemistry of atmospheres formed during accretion of the Earth and other terrestrial planets
Schaefer, L., & Fegley, B. (2010) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.01.026 · Cited by 191
Self-citationSurvival of a proto-atmosphere through the stage of giant impacts: the mechanical aspects
Genda, H., & Abe, Y. (2003) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/s0019-1035(03)00101-5 · Cited by 190
Amino acid survival in large cometary impacts
Pierazzo, E., & Chyba, C. F. (1999) · Meteoritics and Planetary Science · doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.1999.tb01409.x · Cited by 190
Physical state of the very early Earth
Abe, Y. (1993) · Lithos · doi:10.1016/0024-4937(93)90037-d · Cited by 188
Could the Lunar “Late Heavy Bombardment” Have Been Triggered by the Formation of Uranus and Neptune?
Levison, H., Dones, L., Chapman, C., Stern, S., Duncan, M., & Zahnle, K. (2001) · Icarus · doi:10.1006/icar.2001.6608 · Cited by 181
Early evolution of the Earth: Accretion, atmosphere formation, and thermal history
Abe, Y., & Matsui, T. (1986) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jb091ib13p0e291 · Cited by 177
Abe, Y., Ohtani, E., Okuchi, T., Kevin Righter, B., & DRAKE, M. J. (2000) · University of Arizona Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv1v7zdrp.27 · Cited by 174
Impact-induced atmospheres and oceans on Earth and Venus
Matsui, T., & Abe, Y. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322526a0 · Cited by 163
Submarine hot springs and the origin of life
RUSSELL, M. J., HALL, A. J., CAIRNS-SMITH, A. G., & BRATERMAN, P. S. (1988) · Nature · doi:10.1038/336117a0 · Cited by 161
THE ORIGIN AND EARLY EVOLUTION OF LIFE ON EARTH
Oro, J., Miller, S. L., & Lazcano, A. (1990) · Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences · doi:10.1146/annurev.ea.18.050190.001533 · Cited by 160
Chemical effects of large impacts on the Earth's primitive atmosphere
Fegley, B., Prinn, R. G., Hartman, H., & Watkins, G. H. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/319305a0 · Cited by 152
Self-citationImpact melting of frozen oceans on the early Earth: Implications for the origin of life
Bada, J. L., Bigham, C., & Miller, S. L. (1994) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.91.4.1248 · Cited by 146
Rates of fixation by lightning of carbon and nitrogen in possible primitive atmospheres
Chameides, W. L., & Walker, J. C. G. (1981) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf00931483 · Cited by 140
Schaefer, L., & Fegley, B. (2006) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2006.09.002 · Cited by 140
Self-citationExtraterrestrial Flux of Potentially Prebiotic C, N, and P to the Early Earth
Pasek, M. A., & LAURETTA, D. S. (2007) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/s11084-007-9110-5 · Cited by 139
Snowball Earth: A thin‐ice solution with flowing sea glaciers
Pollard, D., & Kasting, J. F. (2005) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2004jc002525 · Cited by 136
Model for the Evolution of the Earth’s Atmosphere
Holland, H. D. (2015) · Geological Society of America eBooks · doi:10.1130/petrologic.1962.447 · Cited by 134
Origin of the atmospheres of the terrestrial planets
Cameron, A. G. W. (1983) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(83)90032-5 · Cited by 124
Carbonaceous Micrometeorites and the Origin of Life
Maurette, M. (1998) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1023/a:1006589819844 · Cited by 119
Lasaga, A. C., Holland, H. D., & Dwyer, M. J. (1971) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.174.4004.53 · Cited by 118
Planets and Their Atmospheres - Origin and Evolution
(1984) · International geophysics/International geophysics series · doi:10.1016/s0074-6142(08)x6039-5 · Cited by 114
Shock-induced volatile loss from a carbonaceous chondrite: implications for planetary accretion
Tyburczy, J. A., Frisch, B., & Ahrens, T. J. (1986) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/0012-821x(86)90104-4 · Cited by 109
Sackmann, I. ‐., & Boothroyd, A. I. (1972) · Cited by 109
Distribution and escape of molecular hydrogen in Titan's thermosphere and exosphere
Cui, J. X., Yelle, R. V., & Volk, K. (2008) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2007je003032 · Cited by 106
Rare Gases and the Formation of the Earth's Atmosphere
Brown, H. K. (1949) · Cited by 106
Chemistry of Silicate Atmospheres of Evaporating SuperEarths
Schaefer, L., & Fegley, B. (2015) · Cited by 104
Self-citationAtmospheric chemistry by large impacts
Zahnle, K. J. (1990) · Geological Society of America eBooks · doi:10.1130/spe247-p271 · Cited by 103
Self-citationFormation of methane in comet impacts: implications for Earth, Mars, and Titan
Kress, M. E., & McKay, C. P. (2004) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.10.013 · Cited by 103
Hashimoto, G. L., Abe, Y., & Sugita, S. (2007) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2006je002844 · Cited by 102
Dissipation of the Primordial Terrestrial Atmosphere Due to Irradiation of the Solar EUV
Sekiya, M., Nakazawa, K., & Hayashi, C. (1980) · Progress of Theoretical Physics · doi:10.1143/ptp.64.1968 · Cited by 100
Shock, E. L., & Schulte, M. D. (1990) · Nature · doi:10.1038/343728a0 · Cited by 99
Hydrothermal Processing of Cometary Volatiles—Applications to Triton
Shock, E. L., & McKinnon, W. B. (1993) · Icarus · doi:10.1006/icar.1993.1185 · Cited by 95
Impacts and the Early Evolution of Life
Zahnle, K. J., & Sleep, N. H. (2006) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/3-540-33088-7_7 · Cited by 85
Self-citationGeochemical constraints on chemolithoautotrophic reactions in hydrothermal systems
Shock, E. L., McCollom, T. M., & Schulte, M. D. (1995) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf01581579 · Cited by 84
Impact Processes on the Early Earth
Koeberl, C. (2006) · Elements · doi:10.2113/gselements.2.4.211 · Cited by 83
Photochemical reactions of water and carbon monoxide in Earth's primitive atmosphere
Bar‐Nun, A., & Chang, S. (1983) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc088ic11p06662 · Cited by 81
Extraterrestrial Organic Matter: A review
Irvine, W. (1998) · Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere · doi:10.1023/a:1006574110907 · Cited by 79
FORMATION OF ATMOSPHERES DURING ACCRETION OF THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
Ahrens, T. J., O’KEEFE, J. D., & Lange, M. A. (1989) · University of Arizona Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv20dsb5m.15 · Cited by 73
Primeval procreative comet pond
Clark, B. C. (1988) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf01804671 · Cited by 67
Emergence of a Habitable Planet
Zahnle, K. J., Arndt, N., Cockell, C., Halliday, A. N., Nisbet, E. G., Selsis, F., & Sleep, N. H. (2007) · Space sciences series of ISSI · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-74288-5_3 · Cited by 62
Self-citationSummary and implications of reported amino acid concentrations in the Murchison meteorite
Shock, E. L., & Schulte, M. D. (1990) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/0016-7037(90)90131-4 · Cited by 61
Shock effects on hydrous minerals and implications for carbonaceous meteorites
Lange, M. A., Lambert, P., & Ahrens, T. J. (1985) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/0016-7037(85)90142-5 · Cited by 61
Sulfur chemistry in the wake of comet Shoemaker‐Levy 9
Zahnle, K. J., Low, M. M., Lodders, K., & Fegley, B. (1995) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/95gl01190 · Cited by 57
Self-citationSekiya, M., Hayashi, C., & Nakazawa, K. (1981) · Progress of Theoretical Physics · doi:10.1143/ptp.66.1301 · Cited by 53
IS EXTRATERRESTRIAL ORGANIC MATTER RELEVANT TO THE ORIGIN OF LIFE ON EARTH?
Whittet, D. (1997) · Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere · doi:10.1023/a:1006534500363 · Cited by 52
Rare Gas Constraints on Early Earth History
Porcelli, D., & Pepin, R. O. (2000) · University of Arizona Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv1v7zdrp.28 · Cited by 50
Planets and Their Atmospheres: Origin and Evolution
Read, P. L. (1985) · Journal of Arid Environments · doi:10.1016/s0140-1963(18)31276-x · Cited by 49
Creating Habitable Zones, at all Scales, from Planets to Mud Micro-Habitats, on Earth and on Mars
Nisbet, E. G., Zahnle, K. J., Gerasimov, M. V., Helbert, J., Ralf Jaumann, E., Hofmann, B. A., Benzerara, K., & Westall, F. (2007) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-007-9175-5 · Cited by 35
Self-citationCarbon dioxide cycling through the mantle and implications for the climate of ancient Earth
Zahnle, K. J., & Sleep, N. H. (2002) · Geological Society London Special Publications · doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.2002.199.01.12 · Cited by 34
Self-citationWen, J.-S., Pinto, J. P., & Yung, Y. L. (1989) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jd094id12p14957 · Cited by 32
The Terrestrial Abundance of the Permanent Gases
Russell, H. N., & Menzel, D. H. (1933) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.19.12.997 · Cited by 32
Current status of the prebiotic synthesis of small molecules.
Miller, S. L. (1986) · PubMed · Cited by 31
Weathering, the carbon cycle, and the differentiation of the continental crust and mantle
van Groos, A. F. K. (1988) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jb093ib08p08952 · Cited by 28
Lessons from Shoemaker-Levy 9 about Jupiter and Planetary Impacts
Harrington, J., de Pater, I., Brecht, S. H., Deming, D., Meadows, V., Zahnle, K. J., & Nicholson, P. D. (2004) · Cited by 28
Self-citationThe Rarity of the Inert Gases on the Earth
Aston, F. W. (1924) · Nature · doi:10.1038/114786a0 · Cited by 25
The Origin of the Earth - What's New?
Halliday, A. N. (2006) · Elements · doi:10.2113/gselements.2.4.205 · Cited by 22
Sugita, S., & Schultz, P. H. (2009) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/2009gl040252 · Cited by 20
The origin and development of the earth and other terrestrial planets: A correction
Urey, H. C. (1952) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/0016-7037(52)90010-0 · Cited by 18
Comments on the Role of H2S in the Chemistry of Earth's Early Atmosphere and in Prebiotic Synthesis
Clark, P. D., Dowling, N. I., & Huang, M. (1998) · Journal of Molecular Evolution · doi:10.1007/pl00006369 · Cited by 16
The evolution of the earth's atmosphere.
Henderson-Sellers, A. (1978) · NewSc · Cited by 12
Creating Habitable Zones, at all Scales, from Planets to Mud Micro-Habitats, on Earth and on Mars
Nisbet, E. G., Zahnle, K. J., Gerasimov, M. V., Helbert, J., Ralf Jaumann, E., Hofmann, B. A., Benzerara, K., & Westall, F. (2007) · Space sciences series of ISSI · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-74288-5_4 · Cited by 12
Self-citationIs Extraterrestrial Organic Matter Relevant to the Origin of Life on Earth?
Whittet, D. C. B. (1997) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-015-8907-9_13 · Cited by 12
The Origin And Early Evolution Of Life On Earth
Oró, J. (1990) · Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences · doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.18.1.317 · Cited by 10
Dissipation of the Primordial Terrestrial Atmosphere Due to Irradiation of Solar EUV
Sekiya, M., Nakazawa, K., & Hayashi, C. (1981) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-009-8477-6_25 · Cited by 7
Shock, E. L., & Schulte, M. D. (1993) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/0016-7037(93)90552-8 · Cited by 2
Miller, S. L., & Bada, J. L. (1993) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/0016-7037(93)90551-7 · Cited by 2
Evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
Hobbs, P. V. (2000) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511808913.002 · Cited by 1
Held (1975) · doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1975)032
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- [9]9. Arrhenius G, De BR, Alfve ´n H. 1974. Origin of the ocean. In The Sea, Vol. 5: E.D. Goldberg (Ed.) Wiley-Interscience, New York, pp. 839-861.
- [39]39. Holland HD. 1962. Model for the evolution of the earths atmosphere. In Petrologic studies: a volume in honor of A.G. Buddington, E.J. Engle, H.L. James, B.F. Leonard (eds.). Geological Society of America, Boulder, pp 447 -477.
- [45]45. Kasting JF. 1982. J Geophys Res 87: Pages 3091-3098.
- [81]81. Schaefer L, Fegley B. 2009. Chemistry of Silicate Atmos- pheres of Evaporating Super-Earths Submitted to Astrophys. J Lett [in press].
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Algae-bacteria interactions: Evolution, ecology and emerging applications
Ramanan, R., Kim, B.-H., Cho, D.-H., Oh, H.-M., & Kim, H.-S. (2016) · Biotechnology Advances · doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.12.003 · Cited by 1,301
Habitability on Early Mars and the Search for Biosignatures with the ExoMars Rover
Vago, J. L., Westall, F., Teams, L. S. P. I., Coates, A. J., Ralf Jaumann, E., Korablev, O., Ciarletti, V., Mitrofanov, I. G., Josset, J., Sanctis, M. C. D., et al. (2017) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2016.1533 · Cited by 519
The Origin of Biological Homochirality
Blackmond, D. G. (2010) · Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology · doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a002147 · Cited by 408
Ingassing, Storage, and Outgassing of Terrestrial Carbon through Geologic Time
Dasgupta, R. (2013) · Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry · doi:10.2138/rmg.2013.75.7 · Cited by 403
The Drive to Life on Wet and Icy Worlds
Russell, M. J., Barge, L. M., Bhartia, R., Bocanegra, D., Bracher, P. J., Branscomb, E., Kidd, R., McGlynn, S., Meier, D. H., Nitschke, W., et al. (2014) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2013.1110 · Cited by 288
“The melting of bolides on impact may have produced occasional short-lived excursions to high CH4 partial pressures, though radiative reoxidation was likely rapid (Zahnle et al., 2010).”
Metadata
- Authors
- Zahnle, K., Schaefer, L., & Fegley, B.
- Affiliations
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zahnle, K.
- Venue
- Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Published
- 2010-06-23
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- a004895-a004895
- ISSN
- 1943-0264 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2944365
- OpenAlex
- W2144682212
- Cited by
- 298
- References
- 148
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 7
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 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 › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- early Earth atmosphere, origin of life, Moon-forming impact, reducing atmosphere, methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, volatile condensation
- MeSH terms
- Origin of Life, Atmosphere, Moon, Earth, Planet
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
