Tostevin Rosalie, Mills Benjamin J W
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Interface Focus. 2020 Aug 6;10(4):20190137. doi: 10.1098/rsfs.2019.0137. Epub 2020 Jun 12.
A hypothesized rise in oxygen levels in the Neoproterozoic, dubbed the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event, has been repeatedly linked to the origin and rise of animal life. However, a new body of work has emerged over the past decade that questions this narrative. We explore available proxy records of atmospheric and marine oxygenation and, considering the unique systematics of each geochemical system, attempt to reconcile the data. We also present new results from a comprehensive COPSE biogeochemical model that combines several recent additions, to create a continuous model record from 850 to 250 Ma. We conclude that oxygen levels were intermediate across the Ediacaran and early Palaeozoic, and highly dynamic. Stable, modern-like conditions were not reached until the Late Palaeozoic. We therefore propose that the terms Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Window and Palaeozoic Oxygenation Event are more appropriate descriptors of the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere and oceans.
新元古代氧气水平的升高被称为新元古代氧化事件，这一假设的升高一直与动物生命的起源和崛起反复关联。然而，在过去十年中出现了一批新的研究成果，对这一说法提出了质疑。我们研究了现有的大气和海洋氧化的替代记录，并考虑到每个地球化学系统的独特系统分类，试图对数据进行调和。我们还展示了一个综合的COPSE生物地球化学模型的新结果，该模型结合了最近的几个新增内容，创建了一个从8.5亿年到2.5亿年前的连续模型记录。我们得出结论，在埃迪卡拉纪和早古生代，氧气水平处于中等水平，且高度动态变化。直到晚古生代才达到稳定的、类似现代的条件。因此，我们建议用“新元古代氧化窗口”和“古生代氧化事件”来更恰当地描述地球大气和海洋中氧气的增加。
