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Cited by 530Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsGeology and Paleoclimatology ResearchEarth Systems and Cosmic Evolution

Theoretical constraints on oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in the Precambrian atmosphere

Kasting, James F.·1987·Precambrian Research
DOI 10.1016/0301-9268(87)90001-5
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Abstract

Simple (one-dimensional) climate models suggest that carbon dioxide concentrations during the Archean must have been at least 100-1000 times the present level to keep the Earth's surface temperature above freezing in the face of decreased solar luminosity. Such models provide only lower bounds on CO2, so it is possible that CO2 levels were substantially higher than this and that the Archean climate was much warmer than today. Periods of extensive glaciation during the early and late Proterozoic, on the other hand, indicate that the climate at these times was relatively cool. To be consistent with climate models CO2 partial pressures must have declined from approximately 0.03 to 0.3 bar around 2.5 Ga ago to between 10(-3) and 10(-2) bar at 0.8 Ga ago. This steep decrease in carbon dioxide concentrations may be inconsistent with paleosol data, which implies that pCO2 did not change appreciably during that time. Oxygen was essentially absent from the Earth's atmosphere and oceans prior to the emergence of a photosynthetic source, probably during the late Archean. During the early Proterozoic the atmosphere and surface ocean were apparently oxidizing, while the deep ocean remained reducing. An upper limit of 6 x 10(-3) bar for pO2 at this time can be derived by balancing the burial rate of organic carbon with the rate of oxidation of ferrous iron in the deep ocean. The establishment of oxidizing conditions in the deep ocean, marked by the disappearance of banded iron formations approximately 1.7 Ga ago, permitted atmospheric oxygen to climb to its present level. O2 concentrations may have remained substantially lower than today, however, until well into the Phanerozoic.

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  • The most plausible solution to the FYS is a big greenhouse effect.

    “The most plausible solution to the FYS is a big greenhouse effect (14, 214, 215).”

    From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [214]

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Authors
Kasting, J. F.
Affiliations
Ames Research Center (US)
Corresponding author
Kasting, James F.
ORCID
Kasting, James F.
Venue
Precambrian Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1987-01
Volume
34
Issue
3-4
Pages
205-229
ISSN
0301-9268 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0301-9268(87)90001-5
OpenAlex
W2063974395
Cited by
530
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 18
FWCI
4.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Precambrian Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
Keywords
Precambrian atmosphere, atmospheric oxygen, partial pressure of CO2, paleosols, organic carbon burial, ferrous iron oxidation, banded iron formations
MeSH terms
Animals, Atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide, Models, Theoretical, Oxygen, Paleontology, Photochemistry, Temperature, Ultraviolet Rays, Water, Greenhouse Effect, Earth, Planet, Evolution, Planetary

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