I respectfully disagree with so much of this that I best go paragraph by
paragraph.


<< Only life on land or near the surface of the ocean sees any significant
daily solar cycle. 

TH
According to Miller/Orgel The Origins of Life on the Earth,
Solar radiation in angstroms = 260,000
All rest combined : electrical discharges - lightning
corona discharges, shock waves - meteorite impacts, ightning bolt pressure
waves, radioactivity, volcanoes, cosmic rays = 6.2
Compare 260,000 with 6.2

RM
Land deep in the ocean

TH
Where is the ocean deep at the origin?
Neww info gives good reason it was defintely  here
by 3.8 bya. That means the origin happened closer
to 4.2 - 3.9. That period is hot, and oceans were
shallow at best - moon closer and great tide cycles.

RM (continues)
 sees a non-cyclic heat
environment responding to geologic processes such as opening or closing
of volcanic vents and spreading or subduction of tektonic plates.

TH
But none of the above is something life can adapt to.
Life can only adapt to a non random cycle. The heat
(and tides) was that consistent heat source.
The others  were too changeable and undependable, and erratic.

RM
Likewise life residing in cracks or pores within bedrock sees virtually
no daily or even yearly solar cycle. And during the early times when
life got started, the Sun was not as bright, and the surface was
repeatedly interrupted by major collisions by asteroids, so the daily
solar cycle might not have been the dominant change in temperature,

TH
It was a chaoitic time - but the sun and greenhouse
gases, and volcanic activity and major collisions (that
were reducing probably quite quickly by 3.9)  and atmosphere was probably a
boon to first life not a detriment.
When the oppressive atmosphere cooled to start the
rains - this would not only begin to slowly build the oceans, but take CO2 out
of the atmosphere. That would do two things 1. reduce the CO2 = lower the
temperature, 2. reduce the oppressive atmosphere that would finally allow the
sun to shine to the earth. Thus a heavy UV
bombardment would be a main selective force .
Don't forget the close Moon causing 5 hour days, and 5 hour nights and
incredible storms and tides etc.
There was really very little place to hide from. in this
environment.



RM
 and
actually it's unlikely any life could have survived 

TH
NO, no no no. LIfe is not something that builds up and THEN survives. It
becomes life because chemical selection said it best was adapted to the
environment.
Life can't pop up out of nothing and then adapt magically and quickly and
safely  and almost instantaneously.


RM
at all on land (if
any existed then) or near the surface of the ocean. So any surviving
life would be far below the surface where response to the solar cycle
couldn't have occurred.

TH
No because there would be no drive to change. It takes
the solar energy to drive chemical reactions. Without it it would be inert.
Thus you would have chemical selection in (Jim M will hate the use and mix of
the terms but) stabilizing mode - thus no change, no evolution, no life.
 >>
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