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Atmospheric oxygenation and volcanism

Author

Listed:
  • James F. Kasting

    (The Pennsylvania State University, 443 Deike, University Park)

  • David C. Catling

    (and Astrobiology Program, Box 351310, University of Washington)

  • Kevin Zahnle

    (NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-3)

Abstract

Arising from F. Gaillard, B. Scaillet & N. T. Arndt Nature 478, 229–232(2011)10.1038/nature10460 Around 2.5 billion years ago, Earth’s atmosphere turned from anoxic to oxic in what is known as the Great Oxidation Event. Gaillard et al.1 suggest that this oxygenation was caused by the emergence of the continents and a shift in volcanism from predominantly submarine to primarily subaerial conditions. Because the ratio of volcanic SO2 to H2S in their model increases with this shift, they argue that the atmosphere became more oxidized. But their model also predicts that outgassing of CO2 decreases at the lower pressure of continental volcanism, and that this should act against atmospheric oxygenation because CO2 is the substrate for the production of oxygen from photosynthesis. Hence, their mechanism may not trigger a rise in atmospheric O2.

Suggested Citation

  • James F. Kasting & David C. Catling & Kevin Zahnle, 2012. "Atmospheric oxygenation and volcanism," Nature, Nature, vol. 487(7408), pages 1-1, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:487:y:2012:i:7408:d:10.1038_nature11274
    DOI: 10.1038/nature11274
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