Open AccessThe rise of oxygen in Earth’s early ocean and atmosphere
Author(s) -
Timothy W. Lyons,
Christopher T. Reinhard,
Noah J. Planavsky
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
nature
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 15.993
H-Index - 1226
eISSN - 1476-4687
pISSN - 0028-0836
DOI - 10.1038/nature13068
Subject(s) - atmosphere (unit) , astrobiology , earth (classical element) , environmental science , early earth , carbon dioxide , billion years , oxygen , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , earth science , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , chemistry , geology , geography , astronomy , physics , organic chemistry , galaxy
The rapid increase of carbon dioxide concentration in Earth's modern atmosphere is a matter of major concern. But for the atmosphere of roughly two-and-half billion years ago, interest centres on a different gas: free oxygen (O2) spawned by early biological production. The initial increase of O2 in the atmosphere, its delayed build-up in the ocean, its increase to near-modern levels in the sea and air two billion years later, and its cause-and-effect relationship with life are among the most compelling stories in Earth's history.
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