Was There Land on the Early Earth?

The presence of exposed land on the early Earth is a prerequisite for a certain type of prebiotic chemical evolution in which the oscillating activity of water, driven by short-term, day-night, and seasonal cycles, facilitates the synthesis of proto-biopolymers. Exposed land is, however, not guaranteed to exist on the early Earth, which is likely to have been drastically different from the modern Earth. This mini-review attempts to provide an up-to-date account on the possibility of exposed land on the early Earth by integrating recent geological and geophysical findings. Owing to the competing effects of the growing ocean and continents in the Hadean, a substantial expanse of the Earth's surface (similar to 20% or more) could have been covered by exposed continents in the mid-Hadean. In contrast, exposed land may have been limited to isolated ocean islands in the late Hadean and early Archean. The importance of exposed land during the origins of life remains an open question.

Automated summary

The presence of exposed land on the early Earth is crucial for a certain type of prebiotic chemical evolution, facilitating the synthesis of proto-biopolymers through the oscillating activity of water. Recent geological and geophysical findings suggest that the extent of exposed land varied during different periods, with a substantial expanse in the mid-Hadean but limited to isolated ocean islands in the late Hadean and early Archean. The importance of exposed land in the origins of life remains a subject of ongoing investigation.