3 ms·
All true, this all depends on what question you're trying to answer. If it's "how long is it likely that the oldest free oxygen molecule I'm inhaling right now
by samatman 6y ago
All true, this all depends on what question you're trying to answer.
If it's "how long is it likely that the oldest free oxygen molecule I'm inhaling right now has been in the atmosphere", that's about 4k years.
If it's "how long has the atmosphere had a double-digit partial pressure of O2", very different question with a different answer.
- mncharity 6y ago> oldest [...] [is] about [residence time] Only if the reservoir is a fifo queue. :) Otherwise there's a distribution, with a tail. But oldest in atmosphere still looks (envelope scribbling...) order Myr? Rather than Gyr. Similar for breath?