Lammer, H und Spross, L. und Grenfell, John Lee und Scherf, M. und Fossati, L. und Lendl, M. und Cubillos, P. (2019) The role of N2 as a Geo-Biosignature for the Detection and Characterization of Earth-like Habitats. Astrobiology, 19 (7), Seiten 927-950. Mary Ann Liebert Inc.. doi: 10.1089/ast.2018.1914. ISSN 1531-1074.
![]() |
PDF
- Verlagsversion (veröffentlichte Fassung)
1MB |
Offizielle URL: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/ast.2018.1914
Kurzfassung
Since the Archean, N2 has been a major atmospheric constituent in Earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen is an essential element in the building blocks of life; therefore, the geobiological nitrogen cycle is a fundamental factor in the long-term evolution of both Earth and Earth-like exoplanets. We discuss the development of Earth’s N2 atmosphere since the planet’s formation and its relation with the geobiological cycle. Then we suggest atmospheric evolution scenarios and their possible interaction with life-forms: first for a stagnant-lid anoxic world, second fora tectonically active anoxic world, and third for an oxidized tectonically active world. Furthermore, we discuss a possible demise of present Earth’s biosphere and its effects on the atmosphere. Since life-forms are the most efficient means for recycling deposited nitrogen back into the atmosphere at present, they sustain its surface partial pressure at high levels. Also, the simultaneous presence of significant N2 and O2 is chemically incompatible in an atmosphere over geological timescales. Thus, we argue that an N2-dominated atmosphere in combination with O2 on Earth-like planets within circumstellar habitable zones can be considered as a geo-biosignature. Terrestrial planets with such atmospheres will have an operating tectonic regime connected with an aerobic biosphere, whereas other scenarios in most cases end up with a CO2-dominated atmosphere. We conclude with implications for the search for life on Earth-like exoplanets inside the habitable zones of M to K stars.
elib-URL des Eintrags: | https://elib.dlr.de/127817/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dokumentart: | Zeitschriftenbeitrag | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Titel: | The role of N2 as a Geo-Biosignature for the Detection and Characterization of Earth-like Habitats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Autoren: |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Datum: | Juli 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Erschienen in: | Astrobiology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Referierte Publikation: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | Nein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Band: | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1089/ast.2018.1914 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seitenbereich: | Seiten 927-950 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Verlag: | Mary Ann Liebert Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 1531-1074 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | veröffentlicht | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stichwörter: | Earth-likeexoplanets—Atmospheres—Tectonics—Biosignatures—Nitrogen—Habitability. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Forschungsbereich: | Luftfahrt, Raumfahrt und Verkehr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Programm: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Programmthema: | Erforschung des Weltraums | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Schwerpunkt: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Forschungsgebiet: | R EW - Erforschung des Weltraums | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Teilgebiet (Projekt, Vorhaben): | R - Projekt COROT Beteiligung (alt) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standort: | Berlin-Adlershof | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institute & Einrichtungen: | Institut für Planetenforschung > Extrasolare Planeten und Atmosphären | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hinterlegt von: | Gebauer, Stefanie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hinterlegt am: | 02 Dez 2019 13:16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Letzte Änderung: | 20 Jan 2020 14:36 |
Nur für Mitarbeiter des Archivs: Kontrollseite des Eintrags