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Dynamics of the Great Oxidation Event from a 3D photochemical-climate model

Authors :
Jaziri, Adam Yassin
Charnay, Benjamin
Selsis, Franck
Leconte, Jeremy
Lefevre, Franck
Source :
Clim. Past, 18, 2421-2447, 2022
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

From the Archean toward the Proterozoic, the Earth's atmosphere underwent a major shift from anoxic to oxic conditions, around 2.4 to 2.1 Gyr, known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE). This rapid transition may be related to an atmospheric instability caused by the formation of the ozone layer. Previous works were all based on 1D photochemical models. Here, we revisit the GOE with a 3D photochemical-climate model to investigate the possible impact of the atmospheric circulation and the coupling between the climate and the dynamics of the oxidation. We show that the diurnal, seasonal and transport variations do not bring significant changes compared to 1D models. Nevertheless, we highlight a temperature dependence for atmospheric photochemical losses. A cooling during the late Archean could then have favored the triggering of the oxygenation. In addition, we show that the Huronian glaciations, which took place during the GOE, could have introduced a fluctuation in the evolution of the oxygen level. Finally, we show that the oxygen overshoot which is expected to have occurred just after the GOE, was likely accompanied by a methane overshoot. Such high methane concentrations could have had climatic consequences and could have played a role in the dynamics of the Huronian glaciations.

Details

Database :
arXiv
Journal :
Clim. Past, 18, 2421-2447, 2022
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2212.01389
Document Type :
Working Paper
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-2421-2022