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The Prebiotic Atmosphere of the Earth

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Astrobiology: Future Perspectives

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 305))

Abstract

Because of the paucity of geologic samples dating back to the early Earth, trying to unveil the nature of the prebiotic terrestrial environment is as frustrating as it is fascinating. An understanding of the characteristics of this period in our planet’s history is, however, crucial to studies of the origin of Life. Recent progress in astrophysics, geochemistry and simulation of planetary accretion provide some new and precious constraints but also question some of the previously admitted “facts”. The aim of this chapter is to highlight some of the important open-ended questions about the environment of the prebiotic Earth (for a more comprehensive review, see Kasting and Catling, 2003). The implications of recent theories of terrestrial planets formation on the origin and early evolution of the atmosphere are discussed, in particular, along with the various influences of our faint but active young Sun during this period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Ctra de Ajalvir km 4 - 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    Franck Selsis

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  1. Franck Selsis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands

    Pascale Ehrenfreund

  2. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

    William Irvine

  3. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA

    Toby Owen

  4. University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

    Luann Becker

  5. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, USA

    Jen Blank

  6. Naples Observatory, Naples, Italy

    John Brucato  & Luigi Colangeli  & 

  7. ENS de Chimie de Paris, Paris, France

    Sylvie Derenne

  8. Bordeaux Observatory, Floirac, France

    Anne Dutrey  & Didier Despois  & 

  9. UNAM, México D.F., México

    Antonio Lazcano

  10. LEME, Paris, France

    Francois Robert

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© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Selsis, F. (2004). The Prebiotic Atmosphere of the Earth. In: Ehrenfreund, P., et al. Astrobiology: Future Perspectives. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 305. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2305-7_11

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