The Possible Role of Volcanic Lightning in Chemical Evolution

Navarro‐González, Rafael; Segura, A.

doi:10.1007/1-4020-2522-x_9

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Our model, like other equilibrium models for volcanic lightning [e.g., Navarro‐González et al , 1998; Navarro‐González and Segura , 2005], does not consider the chemical effects of volcanic lightning on silicate ash. Volcanic lightning may vaporize the silicate ash itself, the surficial ash coating or neither.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volcanic lightning as a source of reactive radical species in eruption plumes

Martin¹,

Ilyinskaya

2011

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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[1] Volcanic lightning has accompanied most recent major explosive eruptions and provides a source of intense thermal energy to drive the formation of reactive radical species. These radicals may have an impact upon the chemical evolution of the eruption plume and its interaction with the atmosphere. Equilibrium modeling shows that within each lightning channel >1% of total N, O, and F and ∼100% of H, Cl, Br, and I may remain as radicals after quenching. The production of radicals generally increases with the quenching temperature of the gas mixture and the dilution of the eruption plume and decreases with increasing atmospheric pressure. Despite the small volume fraction of the plume directly exposed to volcanic lightning (i.e., <10 −4 ), the production of O, H, F, and NO is predicted to be quantitatively significant over the entire plume. Furthermore, these radicals may indirectly lead to the production of Br, Cl, HO 2 , and O 3 through reactions occurring at low temperature. We suggest that volcanic lightning may promote the oxidation of magmatic gases (e.g., HBr and SO 2 ) and result in a wide range of atmospheric impacts, including tropospheric ozone depletion, the production of fixed nitrogen species, and the formation of cloud condensation nuclei.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volcanic lightning as a source of reactive radical species in eruption plumes

Martin¹,

Ilyinskaya

2011

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…Vossen et al 2021;Cimarelli and Genareau 2022;Vossen et al 2022]. However, VL is also a phenomenon that has likely accompanied the Earth since its earliest beginnings and might have played a crucial role in the occurrence of the first organic molecules [Bada 2004;Navarro-González and Segura 2004;Bada 2023], synthesis of ATP components [Chu and Zhang 2023], and phosphorus reduction [e.g. Hess et al 2021;Çalışkanoğlu et al 2023].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

gas-tight shock tube apparatus for laboratory volcanic lightning under varying atmospheric conditions

Springsklee,

Scheu,

Seifert

et al. 2023

Volcanica

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Explosive volcanic eruptions generate electrical discharges, a phenomenon termed volcanic lightning (VL). VL is increasingly well-investigated and monitored for modern eruptions, however volcanism has been active since Earth’s origin. Thus, investigating VL under different atmospheric conditions is relevant for studies of early atmospheric chemistry and potential prebiotic reactions. We developed an experimental setup to investigate VL in varying atmospheres. We present the first experiments of laboratory discharges in particle-laden jets in varying atmospheric conditions. The new experimental setup is a mobile fragmentation bomb erupting into a gas-tight particle collector tank. This setup enables the testing of different atmospheric conditions, changes in the carrier gas of the jet, changes in the pressure within the tank, monitoring of the jet behaviour, and sampling of the atmosphere together with the decompressed solid materials. We find that the number and magnitude of near-vent electrical discharge events are similar in CO2-CO and air atmospheres.

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“…On the other hand, prebiotic synthesis is a fundamental process for chemical evolution. Recently, the effects of volcanic lightning on nitrogen fixation and phosphate reduction have also been considered (Navarro-González and Segura, 2004). This paper aims to present a top-down approach to the question of the origin of life on early Earth.…”

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confidence: 99%

Darwin meets dr. Frankenstein: Using the Drake equation to calculate the probability of volcanic lightning's impact on chemical evolution

Nurkić¹

2022

Belgrade Philosop Ann

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Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been a paramount mechanism of interest in recent literature addressing the origins of biological evolution. However, research on lightning-triggered electroporation represents the innovative and still insufficiently grasped approach to HGT (Kotnik, 2013). On the other hand, prebiotic synthesis is a fundamental process for chemical evolution. Recently, the effects of volcanic lightning on nitrogen fixation and phosphate reduction have also been considered (Navarro-González and Segura, 2004). This paper aims to present a top-down approach to the question of the origin of life on early Earth. By considering the conditions necessary for the emergence of biological and chemical evolution, emphasizing electrostatic discharges, we will attempt to link previous theoretical and experimental research. Furthermore, we will present a recent endeavor at applying the Drake equation to calculating the probability of volcanic lightning impact on the prebiotic synthesis and derive a similar use in estimating the contribution of lightning to HGT (Weaver, 2013). We will also display that choosing a type of probability appropriate for the context of life sciences is not necessarily a quantitative issue. Finally, we will show that significant conceptual constraints, like determining the relevant factors and sources of uncertainty when considering the origin of life on early Earth, are fundamentally philosophical issues. We hope that the results of our research - deriving Drake's equation in the domain of chemical evolution and considering Bayesian and counterfactual types as potentially more suitable candidates for calculating probabilities in the evolutionary framework - will contribute to developing new discussions in life sciences.

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The Possible Role of Volcanic Lightning in Chemical Evolution

Cited by 3 publications

References 57 publications

Volcanic lightning as a source of reactive radical species in eruption plumes

Volcanic lightning as a source of reactive radical species in eruption plumes

gas-tight shock tube apparatus for laboratory volcanic lightning under varying atmospheric conditions

Darwin meets dr. Frankenstein: Using the Drake equation to calculate the probability of volcanic lightning's impact on chemical evolution

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