The role of calcium in regulating marine phosphorus burial and atmospheric oxygenation

Mingyu Zhao (), Shuang Zhang, Lidya G. Tarhan, Christopher T. Reinhard and Noah Planavsky ()
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Mingyu Zhao: Yale University
Shuang Zhang: Yale University
Lidya G. Tarhan: Yale University
Christopher T. Reinhard: Georgia Institute of Technology
Noah Planavsky: Yale University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The marine phosphorus cycle plays a critical role in controlling the extent of global primary productivity and thus atmospheric pO2 on geologic time scales. However, previous attempts to model carbon–phosphorus-oxygen feedbacks have neglected key parameters that could shape the global P cycle. Here we present new diagenetic models to fully parameterize marine P burial. We have also coupled this diagenetic framework to a global carbon cycle model. We find that seawater calcium concentration, by strongly influencing carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) formation, is a key factor controlling global phosphorus cycling, and therefore plays a critical role in shaping the global oxygen cycle. A compilation of Cenozoic deep-sea sedimentary phosphorus speciation data provides empirical support for the idea that CFA formation is strongly influenced by marine Ca concentrations. Therefore, we propose a previously overlooked coupling between Phanerozoic tectonic cycles, the major-element composition of seawater, the marine phosphorus cycle, and atmospheric pO2.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15673-3

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