Sun ID: 12267

How Earth Lost Its Cool

Story by Karen Fox | Visualizations by Walt Feimer Released on June 9, 2016

Earth was far different 4 billion years ago. Back then it received only about three-quarters the amount of energy from the sun than it does today. It also lacked gases in its atmosphere that trap heat. These conditions should have made the planet a cold, icy place. But geological evidence shows Earth was warm and that it had liquid water. So what was causing the warmer environment? A team of scientists from NASA may have found the answer. New research suggests powerful solar storms could have provided the energy needed to heat the planet. In the early days of the solar system, the sun’s surface roiled with giant eruptions, spewing enormous amounts of solar material and radiation out into space. Energetic solar particles that slammed into Earth would have altered the chemistry of the atmosphere, resulting in the formation of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas some 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. The warming of the planet may not have been the only outcome. Scientists say the eruptions also could have provided the energy needed to make complex chemicals such as RNA and DNA that eventually seeded life on Earth. Explore the images to learn more.

The sun produced frequent and intense eruptions around 4 billion years ago that sent giant amounts of radiation and solar material out into space.

Source Material

For More Information

NASA.gov

Story Credits

Lead Visualizer/Animator:
Walt Feimer (HTSI)

Visualizers/Animators:
Krystofer Kim (USRA)
Brian Monroe (USRA)

Lead Producer:
Genna Duberstein (USRA)

Lead Scientist:
Vladimir Airapetian (Sigma Space Corp.)

Lead Writer:
Karen Fox (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Earth photo courtesy of NASA/EPIC

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12267

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Sun