Atmospheric pressure as a natural climate regulator for a terrestrial planet with a biosphere Export

@article{citeulike:6048861, abstract = {10.1073/pnas.0809436106 Lovelock and Whitfield suggested in 1982 that, as the luminosity of the Sun increases over its life cycle, biologically enhanced silicate weathering is able to reduce the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) so that the Earth's surface temperature is maintained within an inhabitable range. As this process continues, however, between 100 and 900 million years (Ma) from now the CO concentration will reach levels too low for C and C photosynthesis, signaling the end of the solar-powered biosphere. Here, we show that atmospheric pressure is another factor that adjusts the global temperature by broadening infrared absorption lines of greenhouse gases. A simple model including the reduction of atmospheric pressure suggests that the life span of the biosphere can be extended at least 2.3 Ga into the future, more than doubling previous estimates. This has important implications for seeking extraterrestrial life in the Universe. Space observations in the infrared region could test the hypothesis that atmospheric pressure regulates the surface temperature on extrasolar planets.}, author = {Li, King-Fai and Pahlevan, Kaveh and Kirschvink, Joseph L. and Yung, Yuk L.}, citeulike-article-id = {6048861}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0809436106}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.pnas.org/content/106/24/9576.abstract}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.pnas.org/content/106/24/9576.full.pdf}, citeulike-linkout-3 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19487662}, citeulike-linkout-4 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19487662}, day = {16}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.0809436106}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, keywords = {astronomy, atmosphere, climate, exoplanet, feedback, pressure, solar}, month = {June}, number = {24}, pages = {9576--9579}, posted-at = {2009-10-31 15:25:18}, priority = {2}, title = {Atmospheric pressure as a natural climate regulator for a terrestrial planet with a biosphere}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0809436106}, volume = {106}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:6048861 L3 - citeulike-article-id:6048861 N2 - 10.1073/pnas.0809436106 Lovelock and Whitfield suggested in 1982 that, as the luminosity of the Sun increases over its life cycle, biologically enhanced silicate weathering is able to reduce the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) so that the Earth's surface temperature is maintained within an inhabitable range. As this process continues, however, between 100 and 900 million years (Ma) from now the CO concentration will reach levels too low for C and C photosynthesis, signaling the end of the solar-powered biosphere. Here, we show that atmospheric pressure is another factor that adjusts the global temperature by broadening infrared absorption lines of greenhouse gases. A simple model including the reduction of atmospheric pressure suggests that the life span of the biosphere can be extended at least 2.3 Ga into the future, more than doubling previous estimates. This has important implications for seeking extraterrestrial life in the Universe. Space observations in the infrared region could test the hypothesis that atmospheric pressure regulates the surface temperature on extrasolar planets. IS - 24 JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences EP - 9579 TI - Atmospheric pressure as a natural climate regulator for a terrestrial planet with a biosphere VL - 106 SP - 9576 KW - astronomy KW - atmosphere KW - climate KW - exoplanet KW - feedback KW - pressure KW - solar AU - Li, King-Fai AU - Pahlevan, Kaveh AU - Kirschvink, Joseph AU - Yung, Yuk PY - 2009/06/16/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0809436106 ER -