Critical review on the origin of atmospheric oxygen: Where is organic matter?

摘要

In a short note of 1998 Davankov questioned the generally accepted notion that the unique features of the planet Earth, namely, the presence of life and atmospheric oxygen are inseparably bonded as a case and effect. Indeed, photosynthesis in terrestrial and aquatic phototrophs simultaneously produces oxygen and carbohydrates in almost equal amounts. Since the degradation of organic matter through burning or rotting also consumes an equivalent amount of oxygen, the total masses of oxygen and organic material must always remain comparable. This correlation for Earth appears to be drastically distorted in favor of oxygen, thus disproving the still widespread delusion of biogenic origin of atmospheric oxygen. Instead, by analyzing more recent data on the balance between oxygen and organics we arrive at the conclusion that radiolysis of water vapors with the preferential dissipation of hydrogen to space, most probably, was the major source of the free and oxidation-spent oxygen. The present review tries to illuminate the most important uncertainties that still remain to be clarified before an interdisciplinary and scientifically-balanced picture on the evolution of Earth gets settled.