Fig. 3: Short-term biological feedback on the atmosphere and climate.
From: Co-evolution of primitive methane-cycling ecosystems and early Earth’s atmosphere and climate
Effects are computed as a function of the H2 volcanic outgassing and abiotic surface temperature (TGeo), for each ecosystem composition. MG indicates H2-based methanogens. AG+AT indicates CO-based acetogens and methanogenic acetotrophs consortia. MG+AG+AT indicates co-occurring methanogens, acetogens, and acetotrophs. TGeo is varied by changing pCO2 in the climate model. a Atmospheric pCH4 at ecosystem-climate equilibrium. Shaded areas indicate conditions for organic haze formation. b Temperature differential between TGeo and the global surface temperature reached at ecosystem-climate equilibrium, TBioGeo. Shaded areas indicate conditions leading to organic haze formation (a) and glaciation (b). Other parameters are set at their default values (Supplementary Tables 2 and 3).
