Cited by 412Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsMarine and coastal ecosystemsEarth Systems and Cosmic Evolution

Redox Stabilization of the Atmosphere and Oceans by Phosphorus-Limited Marine Productivity

Van Cappellen, Philippe, Ingall, Ellery D.·1996·Science

Abstract

Data from modern and ancient marine sediments demonstrate that burial of the limiting nutrient phosphorus is less efficient when bottom waters are low in oxygen. Mass-balance calculations using a coupled model of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, phosphorus, oxygen, and iron indicate that the redox dependence of phosphorus burial in the oceans provides a powerful forcing mechanism for balancing production and consumption of atmospheric oxygen over geologic time. The oxygen-phosphorus coupling further guards against runaway ocean anoxia. Phosphorus-mediated redox stabilization of the atmosphere and oceans may have been crucial to the radiation of higher life forms during the Phanerozoic.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.271.5248.493

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  • Including an additional negative feedback on O2 from increased marine organic C/P burial ratios under anoxic waters increases its initial early Paleozoic level to 0.54 PAL and reduces the effect of the same biological forcing scenarios on O2 by ∼10-30%, giving a maximum increase of +0.63 PAL.

    “Including an additional negative feedback on O2, from increased marine organic C/P burial ratios under anoxic waters (37), increases its initial early Paleozoic level to 0.54 PAL and reduces the effect of the same biological forcing scenarios on O2 by ∼ 10 -30%, giving a maximum increase of + 0.63 PAL (Table S5).”

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Authors
Van Cappellen, P., & Ingall, E. D.
Affiliations
  • P. Van Cappellen, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0340, USA.
  • University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (US)
Venue
Science
Published
1996-01-26
Volume
271
Issue
5248
Pages
493-496
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W1999178866
Cited by
412
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 9
FWCI
16.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (OCE94-15563)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
Keywords
phosphorus burial, ocean anoxia, ocean redox state, atmospheric oxygen, phosphorus limitation, ocean primary productivity, iron cycling, carbon cycle, mass balance, biogeochemical cycles, marine sediment
MeSH terms
Atmosphere, Biological Evolution, Ferric Compounds, Ferrous Compounds, Geology, Models, Chemical, Oceans and Seas, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxygen, Paleontology, Phosphorus, Geologic Sediments, Geological Phenomena

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