Sheldon, N.D., Mitchell, R.L. and Dzombak, R.M. (2021) Reconstructing Precambrian pCO2 and pO2 Using Paleosols. Cambridge Elements. ISSN 2515-6454
Abstract
Paleosols formed in direct contact with the Earth's atmosphere, so they can record the composition of the atmosphere through weathering processes and products. Herein we critically review a variety of different approaches for reconstructing atmospheric O2 and CO2 over the past three billion years. Paleosols indicate relatively low CO2 over that time, requiring additional greenhouse forcing to overcome the 'faint young Sun' paradox in the Archean and Mesoproterozoic, as well as low O2 levels until the Neoproterozoic. Emerging techniques will revise the history of Earth's atmosphere further and may provide a window into atmospheric evolution on other planets.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Nathan D. Sheldon, Ria L. Mitchell and Rebecca M. Dzombak. |
Keywords: | paleosols; oxygen; carbon dioxide; atmosphere; geochemistry |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Engineering (Sheffield) > Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 19 Feb 2021 11:31 |
Last Modified: | 19 Feb 2021 11:31 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/9781108870962 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:170908 |