From Crust to Core Carbon plays a fundamental role on Earth. It forms the chemical backbone for all essential organic molecules produced by living organ- isms. Carbon-based fuels supply most of society’s energy, and atmos- pheric carbon dioxide has a huge impact on Earth’s climate. This book provides a complete history of the emergence and development of the new interdisciplinary field of deep carbon science. It traces four cen- turies of history during which the inner workings of the dynamic Earth were discovered, and it documents the extraordinary scientific revolutions that changed our understanding of carbon on Earth for- ever: carbon’s origin in exploding stars; the discovery of the internal heat source driving the Earth’s carbon cycle; and the tectonic revolu- tion. Written with an engaging narrative style and covering the scien- tific endeavors of about 150 pioneers of deep geoscience, this is a fascinating book for students and researchers working in Earth system science and deep carbon research. is a life fellow at St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. For more than 50 years he has passionately engaged in bringing discoveries in astronomy and cosmology to the general public. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a former vice- president of the Royal Astronomical Society and a fellow of the Geological Society. The International Astronomical Union designated asteroid 4027 as Minor Planet Mitton in recognition of his extensive outreach activity and that of Dr. Jacqueline Mitton. From Crust to Core A Chronicle of Deep Carbon Science University of Cambridge University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10006, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia 314–321, 3rd Floor, Plot 3, Splendor Forum, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi – 110025, India 79 Anson Road, #06–04/06, Singapore 079906 Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108426695 DOI: 10.1017/9781316997475 © Simon Mitton 2021 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2021 Printed in the United Kingdom by TJ International Ltd. Padstow Cornwall A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-108-42669-5 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. From Crust to Core Carbon plays a fundamental role on Earth. It forms the chemical backbone for all essential organic molecules produced by living organ- isms. Carbon-based fuels supply most of society’s energy, and atmos- pheric carbon dioxide has a huge impact on Earth’s climate. This book provides a complete history of the emergence and development of the new interdisciplinary field of deep carbon science. It traces four cen- turies of history during which the inner workings of the dynamic Earth were discovered, and it documents the extraordinary scientific revolutions that changed our understanding of carbon on Earth for- ever: carbon’s origin in exploding stars; the discovery of the internal heat source driving the Earth’s carbon cycle; and the tectonic revolu- tion. Written with an engaging narrative style and covering the scien- tific endeavors of about 150 pioneers of deep geoscience, this is a fascinating book for students and researchers working in Earth system science and deep carbon research. is a life fellow at St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. For more than 50 years he has passionately engaged in bringing discoveries in astronomy and cosmology to the general public. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a former vice- president of the Royal Astronomical Society and a fellow of the Geological Society. The International Astronomical Union designated asteroid 4027 as Minor Planet Mitton in recognition of his extensive outreach activity and that of Dr. Jacqueline Mitton. From Crust to Core A Chronicle of Deep Carbon Science University of Cambridge University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10006, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia 314–321, 3rd Floor, Plot 3, Splendor Forum, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi – 110025, India 79 Anson Road, #06–04/06, Singapore 079906 Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108426695 DOI: 10.1017/9781316997475 © Simon Mitton 2021 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2021 Printed in the United Kingdom by TJ International Ltd. Padstow Cornwall A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-108-42669-5 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. From Crust to Core Carbon plays a fundamental role on Earth. It forms the chemical backbone for all essential organic molecules produced by living organ- isms. Carbon-based fuels supply most of society’s energy, and atmos- pheric carbon dioxide has a huge impact on Earth’s climate. This book provides a complete history of the emergence and development of the new interdisciplinary field of deep carbon science. It traces four cen- turies of history during which the inner workings of the dynamic Earth were discovered, and it documents the extraordinary scientific revolutions that changed our understanding of carbon on Earth for- ever: carbon’s origin in exploding stars; the discovery of the internal heat source driving the Earth’s carbon cycle; and the tectonic revolu- tion. Written with an engaging narrative style and covering the scien- tific endeavors of about 150 pioneers of deep geoscience, this is a fascinating book for students and researchers working in Earth system science and deep carbon research. is a life fellow at St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. For more than 50 years he has passionately engaged in bringing discoveries in astronomy and cosmology to the general public. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a former vice- president of the Royal Astronomical Society and a fellow of the Geological Society. The International Astronomical Union designated asteroid 4027 as Minor Planet Mitton in recognition of his extensive outreach activity and that of Dr. Jacqueline Mitton. From Crust to Core A Chronicle of Deep Carbon Science University of Cambridge University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10006, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia 314–321, 3rd Floor, Plot 3, Splendor Forum, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi – 110025, India 79 Anson Road, #06–04/06, Singapore 079906 Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108426695 DOI: 10.1017/9781316997475 © Simon Mitton 2021 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2021 Printed in the United Kingdom by TJ International Ltd. Padstow Cornwall A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-108-42669-5 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. For Marie Edmonds Contents Foreword page xii Acknowledgments xvii Introduction 1 1 Why Carbon in Earth Matters 4 Foundation of the Deep Carbon Observatory 4 Spheres Below and Heavens Above 7 Looking Down on Earth 11 The Invention of Earth System Science 14 Environmentalists Shake Up Humanity 16 Global Warming and Deep Carbon 18 Jules Verne Imagines Earth’s Dynamic Interior 20 2 The Origin of Deep Carbon in Deep Space 22 Carbon Is Universal 22 It Started with a Big Bang! 23 Stellar Origin of the Chemical Elements 25 Origin of Carbon in the Universe 29 Exploding Stars Seed Space with Carbon 34 Giant Molecular Clouds 36 Formation of