Atmosphere attenuates radiation, it also provides means of oxidation and it is responsible for the changing weather (affecting plants, etc). Can life develop on planets that don't have an atmosphere?
2007-03-24 10:53:42 · 1 answers · asked by misoma5 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Also what about the effect of the atmosphere trapping heat and increasing the temperature?
2007-03-24 13:22:00 · update #1
I don't think there is a definite answer to this. Based on life on Earth, no, but you can't say for sure. Without our atmosphere, I'm pretty sure everything would die because of the radiation originating from the sun. If scientists find life on Mars or Europa (one of Jupiter's moons, which may possibly have water under its icy surface) that could change. But for now, for all we know, life in a distant star system could thrive without an atmosphere.
2007-03-24 13:22:54 · answer #1 · answered by Kathryn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋