Reconstructing Precambrian pCO2 and pO2 Using Paleosols

Paleosols, which form in direct contact with the Earth's atmosphere, can record the composition of the atmosphere through weathering processes and products. Reconstructing atmospheric O2 and CO2 over the past three billion years has been challenging, but emerging techniques may provide a window into atmospheric evolution on other planets.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 04 March 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Paleosols, which developed in close contact with the Earth's atmosphere, possess the remarkable ability to preserve the composition of the atmosphere through the intricate processes of weathering and the formation of various products. In this comprehensive review, we delve into a diverse range of approaches employed to reconstruct the levels of atmospheric oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) over the past three billion years. Paleosols indicate relatively low CO2 levels throughout this period, necessitating the presence of additional greenhouse forcing to counteract the enigmatic "faint young Sun paradox" observed in the Archean and Mesoproterozoic eras. Additionally, they reveal low O2 levels until the Neoproterozoic. As emerging techniques continue to evolve, they hold the potential to rewrite the history of Earth's atmosphere and offer valuable insights into the atmospheric evolution of other celestial bodies.

Weight: 76g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 6 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108819008