Massive release of hydrogen sulfide to the surface ocean and atmosphere during intervals of oceanic anoxia

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2005 Massive release of hydrogen sulfide to the surface ocean and atmosphere during intervals of oceanic anoxia Lee R. Kump; Lee R. Kump 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 535 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alexander Pavlov; Alexander Pavlov 2Center for Astrobiology, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, C.B. 392, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0392, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael A. Arthur Michael A. Arthur 3Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 538 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Lee R. Kump 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 535 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Alexander Pavlov 2Center for Astrobiology, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, C.B. 392, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0392, USA Michael A. Arthur 3Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 538 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Oct 2004 Revision Received: 19 Jan 2005 Accepted: 19 Jan 2005 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (5): 397–400. https://doi.org/10.1130/G21295.1 Article history Received: 21 Oct 2004 Revision Received: 19 Jan 2005 Accepted: 19 Jan 2005 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Lee R. Kump, Alexander Pavlov, Michael A. Arthur; Massive release of hydrogen sulfide to the surface ocean and atmosphere during intervals of oceanic anoxia. Geology 2005;; 33 (5): 397–400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G21295.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Simple calculations show that if deep-water H2S concentrations increased beyond a critical threshold during oceanic anoxic intervals of Earth history, the chemocline separating sulfidic deep waters from oxygenated surface waters could have risen abruptly to the ocean surface (a chemocline upward excursion). Atmospheric photochemical modeling indicates that resulting fluxes of H2S to the atmosphere (>2000 times the small modern flux from volcanoes) would likely have led to toxic levels of H2S in the atmosphere. Moreover, the ozone shield would have been destroyed, and methane levels would have risen to >100 ppm. We thus propose (1) chemocline upward excursion as a kill mechanism during the end-Permian, Late Devonian, and Cenomanian–Turonian extinctions, and (2) persistently high atmospheric H2S levels as a factor that impeded evolution of eukaryotic life on land during the Proterozoic. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.