Paleoatmospheric temperature structure

Abstract

Radiative equilibrium and radiative convective temperature profiles for the earth's evolving atmosphere have been calculated. If the atmosphere evolved from one rich in carbon dioxide, and deficient in oxygen, to its present composition, the temperature structure showed considerable change. The models of 3 to 4 billion years ago display steadily decreasing temperatures with altitude, being 185 K at pressures associated with the present-day upper stratosphere. A lapse rate feature similar to the present-day tropopause is not indicated until about 1 billion years ago; but the stratospheric region is approximately 15 K colder than presently found at comparable pressures. Surface temperatures approximately 10 K warmer than at present existed until nearly 1 billion years ago. When the oxygen content exceeded roughly 0.1 times the present level, surface temperatures began to decrease. If biological processes are important to carbon dioxide - ozone variations, such as has been suggested during the Ice Ages, then estimates of surface temperature should include the effects of both gases.