How Life Drives Mountain Building on Earth & What This Means for Space Exploration | GEO GIRL

Can mountains on other planets and moons help us search for alien life? A 2021 study (Parnell & Brolly, 2021) showed that mountain building on Earth has been, at least in part, driven by life on Earth. But how does life help build mountains?? In this video, I talk about the history of mountain building on Earth and how life has contributed to mountain formation throughout geologic time. Hope you enjoy! ;D

0:00 How Mountains Form on Earth
2:02 Increase in life & C production
3:01 Higher C content of old vs young rocks
3:57 Can C deposits cause mountain building?
5:50 Organic C in ancient mountains
7:33 This C continues to build mountains
8:45 Is life required for mountains to form?
10:15 Were there mountains before life?
11:32 Main driver of tectonics & mtn building
12:10 Are mountains a sign of life?
14:55 Is Plate tectonics required for life?

References:
Main article this concept of 'life contributing to mountain formation' is based on: Parnell & Brolly, 2021- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00...
Tectonics vs plate tectonics video & references therein:    • Not ALL Tectonics is ‘Plate’ Tectonics (w/...  

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Oxygen by D. Canfield: https://amzn.to/3gffbCL
Brief history of Earth by A. Knoll: https://amzn.to/3w3hC1I
Life on young planet by A. Knoll: https://amzn.to/2RBMpny
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Oxygen by N. Lane: https://amzn.to/3z4FgwZ
Alien Oceans by K. Hand: https://amzn.to/3clMx1l
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