microrobert
04-01-2012, 04:51 PM
Fossil raindrops reveal ancient atmosphere
BRISBANE: The fossilised marks of raindrops that fell 2.7 billion years ago in South Africa have revealed the composition of the Earth's early atmosphere.
According to a new study published in Nature today, the early Earth had an atmosphere with similar air pressure to the present day, but much higher levels of greenhouse gases. The findings, from a time when the Earth already had abundant microbial life, should improve our knowledge of what kinds of extrasolar planets might support life.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/5460/fossilised-raindrops-reveal-ancient-earths-atmosphere
BRISBANE: The fossilised marks of raindrops that fell 2.7 billion years ago in South Africa have revealed the composition of the Earth's early atmosphere.
According to a new study published in Nature today, the early Earth had an atmosphere with similar air pressure to the present day, but much higher levels of greenhouse gases. The findings, from a time when the Earth already had abundant microbial life, should improve our knowledge of what kinds of extrasolar planets might support life.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/5460/fossilised-raindrops-reveal-ancient-earths-atmosphere