Organic haze in Earth's early atmosphere: Source of low-13C Late Archean kerogens?

Research Article| November 01, 2001 Organic haze in Earth's early atmosphere: Source of low-13C Late Archean kerogens? Alexander A. Pavlov; Alexander A. Pavlov 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James F. Kasting; James F. Kasting 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jennifer L. Eigenbrode; Jennifer L. Eigenbrode 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Katherine H. Freeman Katherine H. Freeman 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Alexander A. Pavlov 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA James F. Kasting 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Jennifer L. Eigenbrode 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Katherine H. Freeman 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 09 Mar 2001 Revision Received: 22 Jun 2001 Accepted: 09 Jul 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (11): 1003–1006. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1003:OHIESE>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 09 Mar 2001 Revision Received: 22 Jun 2001 Accepted: 09 Jul 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Alexander A. Pavlov, James F. Kasting, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, Katherine H. Freeman; Organic haze in Earth's early atmosphere: Source of low-13C Late Archean kerogens?. Geology 2001;; 29 (11): 1003–1006. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1003:OHIESE>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract High concentrations of greenhouse gases would have been required to offset low solar luminosity early in Earth's history. Enhanced CO2 levels are probably at least part of the solution, but CH4 may have played a significant role as well, particularly during the Late Archean era, 2.5–3.0 Ga, when methanogenic bacteria were almost certainly present. Indeed, biological CH4 production should have led to CO2 drawdown by way of a negative feedback loop involving the carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle. We suggest here that the atmospheric CH4/CO2 ratio approached the value of ∼1 needed to trigger formation of Titan-like organic haze. This haze was strongly depleted in 13C relative to 12C and was produced at a rate comparable to the modern rate of organic carbon burial in marine sediments. Therefore, it could provide a novel explanation for the presence of extremely low-13C kerogens in Late Archean sediments. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.