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Precambrian evolution of the climate systemThis paper presents a new examination of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon as they may have changed between an Archean Earth deficient in land, sedimentary rocks, and biological activity, and a Proterozoic Earth much like the modern Earth, but lacking terrestrial life and carbonate-secreting plankton. Results of a numerical simulation of this transition show how increasing biological activity could have drawn down atmospheric carbon dioxide by extracting sedimentary organic carbon from the system. Increasing area of continents could further have drawn down carbon dioxide by encouraging the accumulation of carbonate sediments. An attempt to develop a numerical simulation of the carbon cycles of the Precambrian raises questions about sources and sinks of marine carbon and alkalinity on a world without continents. More information is needed about sea-floor weathering processes.
Document ID
19930066533
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Walker, James C. G.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
ISSN: 0921-8181
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A50530
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-176
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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