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A persistently low level of atmospheric oxygen in Earth’s middle age

Author

Listed:
  • Xiao-Ming Liu

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Linda C. Kah

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Andrew H. Knoll

    (Harvard University)

  • Huan Cui

    (University of Toronto
    University of Paris)

  • Chao Wang

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Andrey Bekker

    (University of California
    University of Johannesburg)

  • Robert M. Hazen

    (Carnegie Institution for Science)

Abstract

Resolving how Earth surface redox conditions evolved through the Proterozoic Eon is fundamental to understanding how biogeochemical cycles have changed through time. The redox sensitivity of cerium relative to other rare earth elements and its uptake in carbonate minerals make the Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce*) a particularly useful proxy for capturing redox conditions in the local marine environment. Here, we report Ce/Ce* data in marine carbonate rocks through 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history, focusing in particular on the mid-Proterozoic Eon (i.e., 1.8 – 0.8 Ga). To better understand the role of atmospheric oxygenation, we use Ce/Ce* data to estimate the partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen (pO2) through this time. Our thermodynamics-based modeling supports a major rise in atmospheric oxygen level in the aftermath of the Great Oxidation Event (~ 2.4 Ga), followed by invariant pO2 of about 1% of present atmospheric level through most of the Proterozoic Eon (2.4 to 0.65 Ga).

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao-Ming Liu & Linda C. Kah & Andrew H. Knoll & Huan Cui & Chao Wang & Andrey Bekker & Robert M. Hazen, 2021. "A persistently low level of atmospheric oxygen in Earth’s middle age," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-20484-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20484-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna V. Shapiro & Christoph Brühl & Klaus Klingmüller & Benedikt Steil & Alexander I. Shapiro & Veronika Witzke & Nadiia Kostogryz & Laurent Gizon & Sami K. Solanki & Jos Lelieveld, 2023. "Metal-rich stars are less suitable for the evolution of life on their planets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Mojtaba Fakhraee & Noah Planavsky, 2024. "Insights from a dynamical system approach into the history of atmospheric oxygenation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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