Where did Terrestrial Life Begin?

Abstract

IN reference to Mr. Dines's letter in NATURE of February 16, if the diurnal variations in temperature and humidity on a mountain summit in the early earth would have been smaller than at sea-level, my objection to Dr. Macfie's theory would certainly not hold. But Mr. Dines remarks that, assuming some stratification of the atmosphere, the stirring up of the lower levels might cause a temporary raising of the temperature at higher levels, which is the basis of my objection. Mr. Dines points out that if the early atmosphere had been homogeneous, mountain summits could not have been warmed by ascending air, while if the air had been stratified vertical movements would have been impossible; but that dilemma does not seem applicable to the conditions likely when the earth had just cooled down to a temperature at which life was possible.