The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Biogenic Methane, Hydrogen Escape, and the Irreversible Oxidation of Early Earth
Abstract
The low O 2 content of the Archean atmosphere implies that methane should have been present at levels ∼10 2 to 10 3 parts per million volume (ppmv) (compared with 1.7 ppmv today) given a plausible biogenic source. CH 4 is favored as the greenhouse gas that countered the lower luminosity of the early Sun. But abundant CH 4 implies that hydrogen escapes to space (↑space) orders of magnitude faster than today. Such reductant loss oxidizes the Earth. Photosynthesis splits water into O 2 and H, and methanogenesis transfers the H into CH 4 . Hydrogen escape after CH 4 photolysis, therefore, causes a net gain of oxygen [CO 2 + 2H 2 O → CH 4 + 2O 2 → CO 2 + O 2 + 4H(↑space)]. Expected irreversible oxidation (∼10 12 to 10 13 moles oxygen per year) may help explain how Earth's surface environment became irreversibly oxidized.
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In the citing paper
“This hydrogen was likely derived from UV photolysis of CH4 in the upper atmosphere (135).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [135]
In the citing paper
“Some emphasize the role of hydrogen escape to space in oxidizing solid Earth, lowering Earth’s capacity to release O2-consuming reductants (121, 135, 136).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [135]
In the citing paper
“Anoxic Archean air could hold 1000 s of parts per million by volume of CH4 if a microbial flux of CH4 was comparable to today’s (135, 183, 184).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [135]
In the citing paper
“For example, assuming crust oxidation (resulting in a present Fe3+ excess54 of ≈2 × 1021 mol O2 eq) is linked to continental growth, an ‘episodic continental growth' model55 with rapid growth from 10 to 80% of present area 3.2–2.5 Ga would imply a net oxidation rate of ≈2 × 1012 mol O2 eq yr−1 (balanced by a combination of hydrogen escape and organic carbon accumulation).”
From Atmospheric oxygen regulation at low Proterozoic levels by incomplete oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic carbon (2017) · cites this paper as [54]
In the citing paper
“Although there are 3.7 × 1019 mol O2 in the atmosphere and oceans, there are 5.1 × 1020 mol O2 equivalent Fe3+ and sulfate in sedimentary rocks, and ~2 × 1021 mol O2 equivalent excess Fe3+ in igneous and metamorphic rocks (68).”
From Disequilibrium biosignatures over Earth history and implications for detecting exoplanet life (2018) · cites this paper as [68]
In the citing paper
“These crustal rocks are in disequilibrium with the <1.3 × 1021 mol O2 equivalent reduced carbon in the crust (68).”
From Disequilibrium biosignatures over Earth history and implications for detecting exoplanet life (2018) · cites this paper as [68]
Citations
Cites
The composition of the continental crust
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Atmospheric Influence of Earth's Earliest Sulfur Cycle
Farquhar, J., Bao, H., & Thiemens, M. (2000) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.289.5480.756 · Cited by 1,805
Archean Molecular Fossils and the Early Rise of Eukaryotes
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A New Model for Atmospheric Oxygen Over Phanerozoic Time
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Isotopic evidence for microbial sulphate reduction in the early Archaean era
Shen, Y., Buick, R., & Canfield, D. E. (2001) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35065071 · Cited by 620
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-citationGreenhouse warming by CH 4 in the atmosphere of early Earth
Pavlov, A. A., Kasting, J. F., Brown, L. L., Rages, K. A., & Freedman, R. (2000) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets · doi:10.1029/1999je001134 · Cited by 537
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
The rise of oxygen in Earth's early ocean and atmosphere
Lyons, T. W., Reinhard, C. T., & Planavsky, N. J. (2014) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature13068 · Cited by 2,810
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
The deep carbon cycle and melting in Earth's interior
Dasgupta, R., & Hirschmann, M. M. (2010) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2010.06.039 · Cited by 1,051
Questioning the evidence for Earth's oldest fossils
Brasier, M. D., Green, O. R., Jephcoat, A. P., Kleppe, A., Kranendonk, M. J. V., Lindsay, J. F., Steele, A., & Grassineau, N. V. (2002) · Nature · doi:10.1038/416076a · Cited by 979
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
Metadata
- Authors
- Catling, D. C., Zahnle, K. J., & McKay, C. P.
- Affiliations
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Catling, David C.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2001-08-03
- Volume
- 293
- Issue
- 5531
- Pages
- 839-843
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W1972615373
- Cited by
- 507
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 17.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- 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 › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
- Keywords
- biogenic methane, hydrogen escape, Archean atmosphere, methanogenesis, greenhouse effect, photosynthesis
- MeSH terms
- Atmosphere, Bacteria, Carbon Dioxide, Climate, Hydrogen, Iron, Methane, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxygen, Photosynthesis, Sulfur, Earth, Planet, Geologic Sediments, Evolution, Planetary, Euryarchaeota
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