Cited by 390Origins and Evolution of LifePaleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsAstro and Planetary Science

A Hydrogen-Rich Early Earth Atmosphere

Tian, Feng, Toon, Owen B., Pavlov, Alexander A., De Sterck, H.·2005·Science

Abstract

We show that the escape of hydrogen from early Earth's atmosphere likely occurred at rates slower by two orders of magnitude than previously thought. The balance between slow hydrogen escape and volcanic outgassing could have maintained a hydrogen mixing ratio of more than 30%. The production of prebiotic organic compounds in such an atmosphere would have been more efficient than either exogenous delivery or synthesis in hydrothermal systems. The organic soup in the oceans and ponds on early Earth would have been a more favorable place for the origin of life than previously thought.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1106983

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27 of 27 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Most recent models suggest percent-levels of hydrogen would be present in the atmosphere before life arose.

    “most recent models suggest percent-levels of hydrogen would be present in the atmosphere before life arose”

    From The Emergence of Life (2019) · cites this paper as Tian et al. 2005

  • The early atmosphere's composition was at least mildly reducing, although how reducing it was is debated.

    “This composition was at least mildly reducing, although how reducing it was is debated (Tian et al., 2005; Catling, 2006).”

    From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Tian et al., 2005

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Authors
Tian, F., Toon, O. B., Pavlov, A. A., & De Sterck, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Waterloo (CA)
  • Astrophysical and Planetary Science Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Corresponding author
Tian, Feng
Venue
Science
Published
2005-05-13
Volume
308
Issue
5724
Pages
1014-1017
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2027831967
Cited by
390
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 19
FWCI
23.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
Keywords
early Earth atmosphere, hydrogen escape, volcanic outgassing, origin of life, hydrothermal systems, atmospheric escape rates
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Amino Acids, Atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide, Diffusion, Electricity, Hydrogen, Models, Theoretical, Oceans and Seas, Organic Chemicals, Photochemistry, Seawater, Temperature, Ultraviolet Rays, Earth, Planet, Evolution, Chemical, Evolution, Planetary

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