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Stepwise oxygenation of the Paleozoic atmosphere

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander J. Krause

    (University of Leeds)

  • Benjamin J. W. Mills

    (University of Leeds)

  • Shuang Zhang

    (Yale University)

  • Noah J. Planavsky

    (Yale University)

  • Timothy M. Lenton

    (University of Exeter)

  • Simon W. Poulton

    (University of Leeds)

Abstract

Oxygen is essential for animal life, and while geochemical proxies have been instrumental in determining the broad evolutionary history of oxygen on Earth, much of our insight into Phanerozoic oxygen comes from biogeochemical modelling. The GEOCARBSULF model utilizes carbon and sulphur isotope records to produce the most detailed history of Phanerozoic atmospheric O2 currently available. However, its predictions for the Paleozoic disagree with geochemical proxies, and with non-isotope modelling. Here we show that GEOCARBSULF oversimplifies the geochemistry of sulphur isotope fractionation, returning unrealistic values for the O2 sourced from pyrite burial when oxygen is low. We rebuild the model from first principles, utilizing an improved numerical scheme, the latest carbon isotope data, and we replace the sulphur cycle equations in line with forwards modelling approaches. Our new model, GEOCARBSULFOR, produces a revised, highly-detailed prediction for Phanerozoic O2 that is consistent with available proxy data, and independently supports a Paleozoic Oxygenation Event, which likely contributed to the observed radiation of complex, diverse fauna at this time.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander J. Krause & Benjamin J. W. Mills & Shuang Zhang & Noah J. Planavsky & Timothy M. Lenton & Simon W. Poulton, 2018. "Stepwise oxygenation of the Paleozoic atmosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06383-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06383-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Tais W. Dahl & Magnus A. R. Harding & Julia Brugger & Georg Feulner & Kion Norrman & Barry H. Lomax & Christopher K. Junium, 2022. "Low atmospheric CO2 levels before the rise of forested ecosystems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. 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.
    3. Chen, Haojie & Costanza, Robert & Kubiszewski, Ida, 2022. "Legitimacy and limitations of valuing the oxygen production of ecosystems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    4. Guoxiong Chen & Qiuming Cheng & Timothy W. Lyons & Jun Shen & Frits Agterberg & Ning Huang & Molei Zhao, 2022. "Reconstructing Earth’s atmospheric oxygenation history using machine learning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Daniel Eliahou Ontiveros & Gregory Beaugrand & Bertrand Lefebvre & Chloe Markussen Marcilly & Thomas Servais & Alexandre Pohl, 2023. "Impact of global climate cooling on Ordovician marine biodiversity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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