Life in the lithosphere, kinetics and the prospects for life elsewhere

2011 ◽  
Vol 369 (1936) ◽  
pp. 516-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Cockell
Keyword(s):  
Outer Space ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Oxygenic Photosynthesis ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Planetary Scale ◽  
Redox Couples ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Terrestrial Life ◽  
Impact Events ◽  
Microbiological Data

The global contiguity of life on the Earth today is a result of the high flux of carbon and oxygen from oxygenic photosynthesis over the planetary surface and its use in aerobic respiration. Life’s ability to directly use redox couples from components of the planetary lithosphere in a pre-oxygenic photosynthetic world can be investigated by studying the distribution of organisms that use energy sources normally bound within rocks, such as iron. Microbiological data from Iceland and the deep oceans show the kinetic limitations of living directly off igneous rocks in the lithosphere. Using energy directly extracted from rocks the lithosphere will support about six orders of magnitude less productivity than the present-day Earth, and it would be highly localized. Paradoxically, the biologically extreme conditions of the interior of a planet and the inimical conditions of outer space, between which life is trapped, are the locations from which volcanism and impact events, respectively, originate. These processes facilitate the release of redox couples from the planetary lithosphere and might enable it to achieve planetary-scale productivity approximately one to two orders of magnitude lower than that produced by oxygenic photosynthesis. The significance of the detection of extra-terrestrial life is that it will allow us to test these observations elsewhere and establish an understanding of universal relationships between lithospheres and life. These data also show that the search for extra-terrestrial life must be accomplished by ‘following the kinetics’, which is different from following the water or energy.

The orbital technosphere: The provision of meaning and matter by satellites

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Gärdebo ◽  
Agata Marzecova ◽  
Scott Gabriel Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Human Survival ◽  
Planetary Scale ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Epistemological Basis

With a new ‘technosphere’ concept, Peter Haff offers a provocative reconceptualization of technology in Anthropocene, not as derivative consequence of human activity, but as a new ‘quasi-autonomous’ sphere of the environment that conditions human survival within the Earth System. Paying attention to the expansion of the orbital satellites in outer space, this paper suggests that technosphere analysis needs to conceptualize specific histories of the planetary-scale technology while considering how these technologies provide the epistemological basis and limitations for the technosphere. Satellites enhance the capacity of the technosphere as a system and provide systemic knowledge that is the basis for the meaning of the technosphere concept. Yet, this expansion is rooted in the contingencies of earthly geopolitics and the continual breakdown of technology – in this instance as a space debris layer formed in orbit around Earth that endangers the technosphere itself.

Medianatures

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-106
Author(s):  
Jussi Parikka
Keyword(s):  
Planetary Scale ◽  
Nature And Culture ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Visual Technologies

The article outlines the concept of medianatures. The term is a neologism and in debt to Donna Haraway’s rather eloquent and important coinage naturecultures that already functioned to mark the constant co-becomings of supposedly separated spheres of nature and culture. Medianatures is a further elaboration that elaborates the tie between the earth materialities that are mobilized for technological infrastructures, visual technologies, applications and devices, and the onto- epistemological stance that then feeds back into understanding those planetary scale earth materialities in the first place: the techniques of vision, observation, calculation, and circulation that are part of the governance of the earth and its various localities.

scholarly journals Geometrical Characterisation of the Mamfe Basin, Cameroon, from the Earth, Gravitational Model (EGM 2008)

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Anatole Eugene Djieto Lordon ◽  
Mbohlieu YOSSA ◽  
Christopher M Agyingi ◽  
Yves Shandini ◽  
Thierry Stephane Kuisseu
Keyword(s):  
Average Length ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Bouguer Anomaly ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Average Depth ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Gravitational Model ◽  
Petroleum Generation ◽  
Anomaly Map ◽  
Bouguer Anomaly Map

Gravimetric studies using the ETOPO1-corrected high resolution satellite-based EGM2008 gravity data was used to define the surface extent, depth to basement and shape of the Mamfe basin. The Bouguer anomaly map was produced in Surfer 11.0. The Fast Fourier Transformed data was analyzed by spectral analysis to remove the effect of the regional bodies in the study area. The residual anomaly map obtained was compared with the known geology of the study area, and this showed that the gravity highs correspond to the metamorphic and igneous rocks while the gravity lows match with Cretaceous sediments. Three profiles were drawn on the residual anomaly map along which 2D models of the Mamfe basin were drawn. The modeling was completed in Grav2dc v2.06 software which uses the Talwini’s algorithm and the resulting models gave the depth to basement and the shape of the basement along the profiles. After processing and interpretation, it was deduced that the Mamfe basin has an average length and width of 77.6 km and 29.2 km respectively, an average depth to basement of 5 km and an overall U-shape basement. These dimensions (especially the depth) theoretically create the depth and temperature conditions for petroleum generation. 

scholarly journals Dynamic Equilibria in Statistical and Nonlinear Physics of Uniform Stress Rotating Space Elevators (USRSE)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Leonardo Golubovic ◽  
Steven Knudsen
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Uniform Stress ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Equilibrium Configurations ◽  
Space Elevators ◽  
Dynamic Equilibria

The discovery of ultra-strong materials such as carbon nanotubes and diamond nano-thread structures has recently motivated an enhanced interest for the physics of Space Elevators connecting the Earth with outer space. A new concept has recently emerged in space elevator physics: Rotating Space Elevators (RSE) [Golubović, L. & Knudsen, S. (2009). Classical and statistical mechanics of celestial scale spinning strings: Rotating space elevators. Europhysics Letters 86(3), 34001.]. Objects sliding along rotating RSE string (sliding climbers) do not require internal engines or propulsion to be transported from the Earth's surface into outer space. Here we address the physics of a special RSE family, Uniform Stress Rotating Space Elevators (USRSE), characterized by constant tensile stress along the string. From the point of view of materials science, this condition provides the best control of string’s global integrity. We introduce an advanced analytic approach to obtain the dynamic equilibrium configurations of USRSE strings. We use our results to discuss the applications of USRSE for spacecraft launching.

scholarly journals Priority scientific and technical tasks in the field of exploration and efficient use of outer space

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 496-501
Author(s):  
V. A. Soloviev ◽  
A. A. Kovalenko ◽  
S. V. Soloviev
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Noise Immunity ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Space Communications ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Space Navigation ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Fundamental Research ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article discusses the main directions of development of cosmonautics, which have an impact on ensuring the connectivity of the territories of the Russian Federation. The key role of such areas of space activity as space navigation, space communications, remote sensing of the Earth, applied and fundamental research in space is shown. An analysis of the development trends of applied cosmonautics, existing problems and ways to solve them is conducted: increasing the scientific space and remote sensing group of the Earth, methods of improving the accuracy of positioning, availability, noise immunity of space navigation, etc.

The Question of Timing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Chambers ◽  
Jacqueline Mitton
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Geological Society ◽  
The Earth

This chapter demonstrates how American geochemist Clair C. Patterson found out about the Earth's true age. Announcing his discovery at a meeting of the Geological Society of America, Patterson told the gathered delegates that Earth is precisely 4.55 billion years old. The chapter states that although the Earth can be examined in much greater detail than any other body in the solar system, the key to calculating Earth's age lay in rocks from outer space. What Patterson actually did was measure the age of a meteorite. To work out when Earth formed, Patterson had to assume that Earth and the meteorite formed at about the same time.

The role of the Microbial Conveyor Belt on Earth´s system resilience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mireia Mestre ◽  
Juan Höfer
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Planetary Scale ◽  
Microbial Biogeography ◽  
The Earth ◽  
System Resilience ◽  
Global Biogeochemical Cycles

<p>Despite being major players on the global biogeochemical cycles, microorganisms are generally not included in holistic views of Earth’s system. The Microbial Conveyor Belt is a conceptual framework that represents a recurrent and cyclical flux of microorganisms across the globe, connecting distant ecosystems and Earth compartments. This long-range dispersion of microorganisms directly influences the microbial biogeography, the global cycling of inorganic and organic matter, and thus the Earth system’s functioning and long-term resilience. Planetary-scale human impacts disrupting the natural flux of microorganisms pose a major threat to the Microbial Conveyor Belt, thus compromising microbial ecosystem services. Perturbations that modify the natural dispersion of microorganisms are, for example, the modification of the intensity/direction of air fluxes and ocean currents due to climate change, the vanishing of certain dispersion vectors (e.g., species extinction or drying rivers) or the introduction of new ones (e.g., microplastics, wildfires). Transdisciplinary approaches are needed to disentangle the Microbial Conveyor Belt, its major threats and their consequences for Earth´s system resilience.</p>

scholarly journals The Frequency and Predicted Consequences of Cosmic Impacts in the Last 65 Million Years

2004 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 289-294
Author(s):  
Michael Paine ◽  
Benny Peiser
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Catastrophic Event ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Global Events ◽  
Impact Events

Sixty five million years ago a huge asteroid collided with the Earth and ended the long reign of the dinosaurs. In the aftermath of this catastrophic event, the mammals arose and eventually mankind came to dominate the surface of the planet. The Earth, however, has not been free from severe impacts since the time of the dinosaur killer. We examine the likely frequency of major impact events over the past 65 million years, the evidence for these impacts and the predicted consequences of various types of impacts. It is evident that the mammals had to survive frequent severe disruptions to the global climate, and it is likely that over the past 5 million years hominids were faced with several catastrophic global events. Smaller but strategically located impact events could bring down our civilisation if they occurred today. Mankind has recently developed the expertise to predict and mitigate future impacts, but political and financial support are lacking.

scholarly journals The fate of Earth’s ocean

2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bounama ◽  
S. Franck ◽  
W. von Bloh
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Water Reservoir ◽  
Reservoir Water ◽  
Global Water Cycle ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Future ◽  
Global Water

Abstract. Questions of how water arrived on the Earth’s surface, how much water is contained in the Earth system as a whole, and how much water will be available in the future in the surface reservoirs are of central importance to our understanding of the Earth. To answer the question about the fate of the Earth’s ocean, one has to study the global water cycle under conditions of internal and external forcing processes. Modern estimates suggest that the transport of water to the surface is five times smaller than water movement to the mantle, so that the Earth will lose all its sea-water in one billion years from now. This straightforward extrapolation of subduction-zone fluxes into the future seems doubtful. Using a geophysical modelling approach it was found that only 27% of the modern ocean will be subducted in one billion years. Internal feedbacks will not be the cause of the ocean drying out. Instead, the drying up of surface reservoirs in the future will be due to the increase in temperature caused by a maturing Sun connected to hydrogen escape to outer space. Keywords: Surface water reservoir, water fluxes, regassing, degassing, global water cycle

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