Revisiting HCN formation in Earth's early atmosphere

Details Revisiting HCN formation in Earth's early atmosphere Revisiting HCN formation in Earth's early atmosphere

Aug 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011e%26psl.308..417t&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 308, Issue 3, p. 417-423.

Physics

Early Earth, Hcn, Photochemistry, Ammonia

Scientific paper

Using a new photochemical model, the HCN chemistry in Earth's early atmosphere is revisited. We find that HCN production in a CH4-rich early atmosphere could have been efficient, similar to the results of a previous study (Zahnle, 1986). For an assumed CH4 mixing ratio of 1000 ppmv, HCN surface deposition increases from 2 × 109 cm-2 s-1 at fCO2 = 3% to more than 1 × 1010 cm-2 s-1 (30 Tg/yr) at fCO2 = 0.3% and 1%. These conditions may well have applied throughout much of the Archean eon, 3.8-2.5 Ga. Prior to the origin of life and the advent of methanogens, HCN production rates would likely have been at 1 × 107 cm-2 s-1 or lower, thereby providing a modest source of HCN for prebiotic synthesis.

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