Atmospheric oxygen regulation at low Proterozoic levels by incomplete oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic carbon

Stuart J. Daines, Benjamin J. W. Mills and Timothy M. Lenton ()
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Stuart J. Daines: Earth System Science Group, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
Benjamin J. W. Mills: Earth System Science Group, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
Timothy M. Lenton: Earth System Science Group, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract It is unclear why atmospheric oxygen remained trapped at low levels for more than 1.5 billion years following the Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event. Here, we use models for erosion, weathering and biogeochemical cycling to show that this can be explained by the tectonic recycling of previously accumulated sedimentary organic carbon, combined with the oxygen sensitivity of oxidative weathering. Our results indicate a strong negative feedback regime when atmospheric oxygen concentration is of order pO2∼0.1 PAL (present atmospheric level), but that stability is lost at pO2

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14379

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