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Evolution of the Atmosphere, Fire and the Anthropocene Climate Event Horizon pp 3–19Cite as

Early Atmosphere-Ocean-Biosphere Systems

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Abstract

The application of isotopic tracers to paleo-climate investigations—including oxygen (δ18O), sulphur (δ33S) and carbon (δ13C), integrated with Sedimentological and proxies studies, allows vital insights into the composition of early atmosphere–ocean-biosphere system, suggesting low atmospheric oxygen, high levels of greenhouse gases (CO2 + CH4 and likely H2S), oceanic anoxia and high acidity, limiting habitats to single-cell methanogenic and photosynthesizing autotrophs. Increases in atmospheric oxygen have been related to proliferation of phytoplankton in the oceans, likely about ~2.4 Ga (billion years-ago) and 0.7–0.6 Ga.

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  1. School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, A.D. Hope Building #14, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Andrew Y. Glikson

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Correspondence to Andrew Y. Glikson .

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Glikson, A.Y. (2014). Early Atmosphere-Ocean-Biosphere Systems. In: Evolution of the Atmosphere, Fire and the Anthropocene Climate Event Horizon. SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7332-5_1

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