History of the Earth's atmosphere.

Abstract

Reconstructs the changes in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen throughout the Earth's history, using quantitative data on geological changes in carbonate sediments. The calculations, performed in most detail for the Phanerozoic and to a lesser degree for the Late Precambrian, are supplemented with estimates of changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere in the Early Precambrian. Comparisons are drawn between the atmospheric changes and the development of animate nature, a close relationship being found between the stages of the evolution of organisms and variations in the chemical composition of the atmosphere. The data from geological history can be used to study the contemporary anthropogenic climate change due to the increased burning of fossil fuels. - after Authors