Middle to Late Paleozoic Atmospheric CO 2 Levels from Soil Carbonate and Organic Matter
- 23 February 1996
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 271 (5252) , 1105-1107
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.271.5252.1105
Abstract
The stable carbon isotope compositions of ancient soil carbonate and coexisting soil organic matter indicate that atmospheric CO 2 levels decreased by a factor of 10 during the middle to late Paleozoic era. Proxy measurements of CO 2 were made by application of a soil carbonate CO 2 paleobarometer to a suite of paleosols that share key physical and chemical characteristics. The estimates agree with theoretical models that imply that a decrease in Paleozoic atmospheric CO 2 levels was associated with afforestation of the land surface by terrestrial plants and with global climate change leading to the extensive Permo-Carboniferous glaciation.Keywords
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