I found this paper quite interesting:
http://www.geosc.psu.edu/~kasting/PersonalPage/Pdf/Geology_01.pdf
I thought about this, not only could a "primordial Earth" provide an explanation for an exotic atmosphere in the habitable zone, but even a world high in CH4 with a (light?) hydrocarbon haze. Might be an interesting setting for an adventure.
A prebiotic planet in the HZ would then (according to several references, including this one) have an atmosphere of CO2 and H2O vapor. With the rise of methanogenic bacteria, CH4 would apparently become a major component. Perhaps this could be an example of a world with a high(er) methane concentration atmosphere that is not cold, and therefore does not require low temp protection...
And who can say if all of these bacterial species are innocuous...or are some quite hazardous?
Also such a world would be a prime target for any terraforming (which I believe still would require a long time, even 100s of years??? I'm in the somewhat pessimistic group about terraforming, believing that it would take generations).
http://www.geosc.psu.edu/~kasting/PersonalPage/Pdf/Geology_01.pdf
I thought about this, not only could a "primordial Earth" provide an explanation for an exotic atmosphere in the habitable zone, but even a world high in CH4 with a (light?) hydrocarbon haze. Might be an interesting setting for an adventure.
A prebiotic planet in the HZ would then (according to several references, including this one) have an atmosphere of CO2 and H2O vapor. With the rise of methanogenic bacteria, CH4 would apparently become a major component. Perhaps this could be an example of a world with a high(er) methane concentration atmosphere that is not cold, and therefore does not require low temp protection...
And who can say if all of these bacterial species are innocuous...or are some quite hazardous?
Also such a world would be a prime target for any terraforming (which I believe still would require a long time, even 100s of years??? I'm in the somewhat pessimistic group about terraforming, believing that it would take generations).
