Fossil raindrops probe ancient atmosphere

[dipsydoodle]

The imprints of raindrops preserved in 2.7bn-year-old rock are being used to figure out what the atmosphere was like on the early Earth.

Scientists have used the depressions drops left to calculate how fast they were going as they impacted the ground.

This has allowed them to determine the density of air in ancient times.

This "palaeobarometry" approach, revealed at the AGU Fall Meeting, will help constrain the models that try to simulate conditions in Archaean times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20575250

[Diclotican]

1. dipsydoodle

dipsydoodle

Interesting - I have no idea that they could discover ancient rain drops at all - not to say 2.7bn year ago..

Diclotican

[HereSince1628]

2. Imprints of raindrops captured in stone...

you just have to admit that sometimes nature is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Diclotican]

4. HereSince1628

HereSince1628

The more I look at the nature, the more I must admit - it is amazing to put it carefully. And we are lucky enought to be able to get to know it

Diclotican

[HereSince1628]

5. As a dedicated biophiliac I totally agree!

[sakabatou]

3. Me neither

It's exciting what science can find.