4 ms·
That is very plausible, and it might even be the case that once free oxygen started building up in the atmosphere (from about 2.5 bn years ago, accelerating aft
by mannykannot 6y ago
That is very plausible, and it might even be the case that once free oxygen started building up in the atmosphere (from about 2.5 bn years ago, accelerating after 1 bn ya), the environment had become chemically unsuitable.
Another consequence of free oxygen is the formation of an ozone layer, reducing the UV flux at the surface. I guess the significance of that depends on whether UV helped or hindered the process.
- libraryatnight 6y agohelped or hindered, does that mean there was basically a window of opportunity and life made it?
- mongol 6y agoPerhaps not in this particular example. Without the oxygen, a bi-product of life, no ozone and no limitation of UV radiation. However other windows of opportunity may have closed. Such as seems to have happened on Mars and Venus.
- nextaccountic 6y agoNote that the oxygen in atmosphere was created by life itself. Oxygen molecules are highly reactive and without a process that continually produces them they would eventually disappear.