Volcanic Gases and
The Origin of the Atmosphere
Gas plume as lava enters the Pacific Ocean at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii.
Photo copyrighted by Paul J. Buklarewicz.
Two models are most favored for the origin of the atmosphere: outgassing or
accretion. Outgassing is related to the differentiation of the Earth and the
release of gases by volcanoes. Assuming that the gases we presently observe were
also released by early volcanoes the atmosphere would be made of water vapor
(H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrochloric acid (HCl),
methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen (N2), & sulfur gases. The atmosphere
was reducing (no free oxygen).
The present-day atmosphere is quite different:
- 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide plus small amounts of
water vapor
Early in Earth history, water vapor formed clouds, rain, and ultimately all of
the surface water (oceans, ground water, lakes, rivers, glaciers). The presence
of the ancient oceans and lakes is recorded by different types of sedimentary rocks.
Perhaps the best geologic evidence for the composition of the early atmosphere
is the presence and abundance of Banded Iron Formations. These rocks are made of
layers of sulfide minerals (evidence for a reducing environment) and chert or
fine-grained quartz. These rocks are not present in rocks younger than 1.8 - 2.5
billions of years ago, when oxygen starting becoming more abundant.
The amount of carbon dioxide was reduced by chemical weathering of minerals at
the surface:
- CaSiO3 + CO2 <-> CaCO3 + SiO2.
The amount of oxygen increased due to early life forms, like the algae in stromatolites.
The introduction of red beds, sedimentary rocks with ferric oxide (hematite) cement, to the rock record indicates the addition of free oxygen to the atmosphere.
The Atmosphere (& Hydrosphere) by Rick Behl has more information.
Sources of Information:
Kasting, J.F., 1993: Earth's early atmosphere. Science, v. 259, p. 920-926.
| 
