The DOI matches its Crossref record; 23 of the 23 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Fractal Organic Hazes Provided an Ultraviolet Shield for Early Earth
Abstract
The Archean Earth (3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago) was probably enshrouded by a photochemical haze composed of fractal aggregate hydrocarbon aerosols. The fractal structure of the aerosols would have had a strong effect on the radiative properties of the haze. In this study, a fractal aggregate haze was found to be optically thick in the ultraviolet wavelengths while remaining relatively transparent in the mid-visible wavelengths. At an annual production rate of 10(14) grams per year and an average monomer radius of 50 nanometers, the haze would have provided a strong shield against ultraviolet light while causing only minimal antigreenhouse cooling.
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“A cooling limit exists because as a haze becomes more UV absorbing, it shields CH4 molecules from the photolysis needed for further haze formation.”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [163]
In the citing paper
“However, whether this shielding actually occurred depends on whether hazes actually existed and on the size and radiative properties of haze particles, which remain uncertain (1, 163).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [163]
In the citing paper
“Thus, attenuation of sunlight saturates (1, 163).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [163]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Wolf, E. T., & Toon, O. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2010-06-04
- Volume
- 328
- Issue
- 5983
- Pages
- 1266-1268
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2078652111
- Cited by
- 172
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 5.95
- 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 › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- early Earth atmosphere, organic haze, fractal aggregates, UV protection, photochemical haze, radiative properties, optical depth, greenhouse effect
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