Biosphere
83
hydrogen is thus quite similar to meteoric water and may be derived
from a photo dissociation of water vapor in the atmosphere. BEGEMANN
and FRIEDMAN (1959) postulated that their data refer to mixtures of free
atmospheric hydrogen with locally produced industrial hydrogen. Thus
it can be concluded that atmospheric hydrogen and the water vapor of
the atmosphere are not in thermodynamic equilibrium, as has been
pointed out by HARTECK and SUESS (1949).
Sulfur is found as a trace component in the atmosphere where it
occurs in aerosoles as sulfate and in the gaseous state as H2S and S02.
The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate in the atmosphere was investigated by OSTLUND (1959), THODE et al. (1961). JENSEN and NAKAI (1961),
RAFTER (1965), NAKAI and JENSEN (1967), RAFTER and MIZUTANI (1967),
MIZUTANI and RAFTER (1969c), and CORTECCI and LONGINELLI (1970).
The latter authors studied the isotopic composition of both sulfur and
oxygen in rainwater sulfate.
The following sources of sulfate from rain samples were considered:
1) industrial sulfur, 2) ocean spray sulfate, 3) bacterial sulfur, mostly from
tidal flats, and 4) volcanic sulfur.
The results obtained indicate that rainwater sulfate is generally depleted in the heavy isotope with respect to seawater sulfate. MIZUTANI
and RAFTER (1969c) concluded that seawater spray was one of the main
sources of sulfates in the rain studied, the other main source being industrial activity, which produces S02. The contributions of each source
varied widely depending mainly upon meteorological conditions. However, about one-half of the samples studied showed a dominant contribution of seawater sulfate.
On the other hand, the results of NAKAI and JENSEN (1967) and
CORTECCI and LONGINELLI (1970) suggest that the sulfate in rainwater
originates from atmospheric oxidation of S02 from industrial activity,
without a major contribution from ocean spray.
VII. Biosphere
As used here, the term "biosphere" includes the total sum of living
matter - plants, animals, and microorganisms - and the residues of the
living matter in the geological environment such as coal and petroleum.
Photosynthesis of carbon dioxide by means of chlorophyll and light
is of primary importance for aU living matter on earth. The process can
be schematically expressed by the following equation:
6C02 + 6H20~C6H1206 + 602 •
Energy must be supplied if the reaction is to go from left to right. In
nature the energy is provided by solar radiation. In this way the radiant
83
hydrogen is thus quite similar to meteoric water and may be derived
from a photo dissociation of water vapor in the atmosphere. BEGEMANN
and FRIEDMAN (1959) postulated that their data refer to mixtures of free
atmospheric hydrogen with locally produced industrial hydrogen. Thus
it can be concluded that atmospheric hydrogen and the water vapor of
the atmosphere are not in thermodynamic equilibrium, as has been
pointed out by HARTECK and SUESS (1949).
Sulfur is found as a trace component in the atmosphere where it
occurs in aerosoles as sulfate and in the gaseous state as H2S and S02.
The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate in the atmosphere was investigated by OSTLUND (1959), THODE et al. (1961). JENSEN and NAKAI (1961),
RAFTER (1965), NAKAI and JENSEN (1967), RAFTER and MIZUTANI (1967),
MIZUTANI and RAFTER (1969c), and CORTECCI and LONGINELLI (1970).
The latter authors studied the isotopic composition of both sulfur and
oxygen in rainwater sulfate.
The following sources of sulfate from rain samples were considered:
1) industrial sulfur, 2) ocean spray sulfate, 3) bacterial sulfur, mostly from
tidal flats, and 4) volcanic sulfur.
The results obtained indicate that rainwater sulfate is generally depleted in the heavy isotope with respect to seawater sulfate. MIZUTANI
and RAFTER (1969c) concluded that seawater spray was one of the main
sources of sulfates in the rain studied, the other main source being industrial activity, which produces S02. The contributions of each source
varied widely depending mainly upon meteorological conditions. However, about one-half of the samples studied showed a dominant contribution of seawater sulfate.
On the other hand, the results of NAKAI and JENSEN (1967) and
CORTECCI and LONGINELLI (1970) suggest that the sulfate in rainwater
originates from atmospheric oxidation of S02 from industrial activity,
without a major contribution from ocean spray.
VII. Biosphere
As used here, the term "biosphere" includes the total sum of living
matter - plants, animals, and microorganisms - and the residues of the
living matter in the geological environment such as coal and petroleum.
Photosynthesis of carbon dioxide by means of chlorophyll and light
is of primary importance for aU living matter on earth. The process can
be schematically expressed by the following equation:
6C02 + 6H20~C6H1206 + 602 •
Energy must be supplied if the reaction is to go from left to right. In
nature the energy is provided by solar radiation. In this way the radiant