2.5 billion age ago , the Sun was basically invisible from the Earth ’s surface . Microbes in the oceans pumped methane into the atmosphere , creating a giant swarm of smogginess that covered the entire major planet . Yes , the whole world turn into LA .
If you were to visit Earth at most points in its history , it would n’t look that different . The continent might be rearranged , but you would still recognize our major planet as that conversant pallid risque loony toons . But until about 2.45 billion years ago , Earth was engage in a constant cycle of flipping between absolved sky and this hydrocarbon smog . Earth ’s aura would have looked much like that of Saturn ’s moon Titan , which is also covered in a methane fog .
This theory of Earth ’s atmospheric past tense has been around for a while , but it ’s only now that an international squad of investigator have been able-bodied to receive unequivocal trial impression . By analyzing sediments found in South Africa date back 2.5 to 2.65 billion years , the team were able-bodied to construct the unique atmospheric cycle that then dominated the planet . Writing in Nature Geoscience , they explain the unknown push - pull that govern the skies of the early Earth :
We find evidence for oxygen output in microbic matte and localized oxygenation of surface waters . Carbon and sulphur isotope signal that this atomic number 8 production fall out under a rock-bottom air that was periodically rich in methane , consistent with the prediction of a hydrocarbon haze . Our simulation predict transitions between two static atmospheric state , one with constitutive fog and the other daze - complimentary . The transition are presumptively order by variation in the amount of biologic methane production during the Archaean eon .
This cycle in all likelihood came to an end with the rise of cyanobacteria , which produced enough oxygen to flood out the methane - producing microbes and end the epoch of hydrocarbon hazes . Still , if you ’re looking for a fresh tailspin on the post - apocalyptical story , how about find a manner to restart this cycle of thick , impenetrable methane smog ? Of course , as an LA resident physician , that just sound like Tuesday , but I bet others would find it terrific .
Nature Geosciencevia ScienceNOW .
AtmosphereEarthGeologyOxygenScience
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