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Life indicators - Chlorophyl
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Author | Message |
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George 254 Send message Joined: 25 Jul 99 Posts: 155 Credit: 16,507,264 RAC: 19 |
As well as radio signals, another sure indication of a planet where life might be similar to ours is chlorophyll or photosynthesis. Is there any way this could be detected by SETI or similar method? Apparently water vapour is detectable, so why not chlorophyll? |
William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 3756 Credit: 1,999,735 RAC: 4 |
Chlorophyll is in the leaves not in the atmosphere !! |
George 254 Send message Joined: 25 Jul 99 Posts: 155 Credit: 16,507,264 RAC: 19 |
Yes I knew that but the light reflected back from the leaves is detectable, like water vapour in the atmosphere. BTW I am not the first to suggest trying to detect Chlorophyll in a plnetary atmosphere. |
KLiK Send message Joined: 31 Mar 14 Posts: 1304 Credit: 22,994,597 RAC: 60 |
As well as radio signals, another sure indication of a planet where life might be similar to ours is chlorophyll or photosynthesis. Is there any way this could be detected by SETI or similar method? if you want to detect Life: 1. find planet with water vapor 2. confirm that it has oxygen & carbon-dioxide you have life there! OK, what do you do next? Confirm advanced life...my best guess is pollutants in atmosphere: 1st I'd suggest CFC...why? we have refrigerator in almost every home now! 2nd NOx gasses...those will show internal combustion engines! 3rd SOx gasses...which will show industry development, but also might be triggered by some vulcanos! 4th NH4 gasses...which will show advancement of agriculture! Problem: 1. you have to be able to detect 1/1.000.000 particles 2. over a distance of few LY :/ non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU |
rob smith Send message Joined: 7 Mar 03 Posts: 22200 Credit: 416,307,556 RAC: 380 |
CFCs are the only gases on your list that do not occur in geological processes, without the need for life. Bob Smith Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society) Somewhere in the (un)known Universe? |
KLiK Send message Joined: 31 Mar 14 Posts: 1304 Credit: 22,994,597 RAC: 60 |
CFCs are the only gases on your list that do not occur in geological processes, without the need for life. I know...that's why they are number 1 on the list! all others have to be checked with a "normal values of inhabited world", against "increased amount of industrial society"...though, some gasses (like SOx) can be from volcano eruption, making a "false positive reading... non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU |
Raistmer Send message Joined: 16 Jun 01 Posts: 6325 Credit: 106,370,077 RAC: 121 |
As well as radio signals, another sure indication of a planet where life might be similar to ours is chlorophyll or photosynthesis. Is there any way this could be detected by SETI or similar method? Maybe because quite different orders of magnitude for number of H2O molecules and Chl ones?... |
George 254 Send message Joined: 25 Jul 99 Posts: 155 Credit: 16,507,264 RAC: 19 |
Thanks for this. Do you know any links where there is more detail on this? Regards George |
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