Great Oxidation Event

E219022

The Great Oxidation Event was a pivotal period in Earth’s early history when atmospheric oxygen levels rose dramatically due to photosynthetic microorganisms, fundamentally transforming the planet’s environment and biosphere.

All labels observed (5)

Label Occurrences
Great Oxidation Event canonical 7
Great Oxidation 1
Great Oxygenation Event 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf atmospheric oxygenation event
geological event
paleoclimatic event
alsoKnownAs GOE
Great Oxidation Event
surface form: Great Oxidation

Great Oxidation Event
surface form: Great Oxygenation Event

Great Oxidation Event
surface form: Oxygen Catastrophe

Great Oxidation Event
surface form: Oxygen Revolution
characterizedBy increase of atmospheric O2 from trace levels to at least 0.1% of present atmospheric level
permanent oxygenation of the atmosphere above extremely low background levels
endTime approximately 2.0 billion years ago
evidence appearance of oxidized paleosols
changes in banded iron formations
disappearance of mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes in sedimentary rocks
occurrence of continental red beds after the event
followedBy Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event
Proterozoic oxygenation history
hasCause biological production of molecular oxygen
decline in reduced volcanic and metamorphic gas fluxes
oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria
saturation of crustal and oceanic oxygen sinks
hasEffect appearance of red beds
change in atmospheric chemistry from reducing to more oxidizing
decline in banded iron formation deposition
enabling evolution of aerobic respiration
formation of an ozone layer
fundamental transformation of Earth’s biosphere
global climatic changes
increase in sulfate concentrations in oceans
mass extinction of many anaerobic microorganisms
oxidation of Earth’s surface environments
possible contribution to the Huronian glaciation
possible initiation of Paleoproterozoic glaciations
rise in atmospheric oxygen levels
setting conditions for later evolution of complex eukaryotic life
locatedIn Earth’s atmosphere
surface form: Earth atmosphere

Water
surface form: Earth hydrosphere

Earth surface environments
mainAgent cyanobacteria
photosynthetic microorganisms
partOf Paleoproterozoic Era
surface form: Paleoproterozoic era
precededBy Archean anoxic atmosphere
significance key prerequisite for the later rise of complex multicellular life
major turning point in Earth’s environmental evolution
transition from an anoxic to an oxygenated atmosphere
startTime approximately 2.45 billion years ago
studiedIn evolutionary biology
geochemistry
geology
paleoclimatology
timePeriod Paleoproterozoic Era
surface form: Paleoproterozoic

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (11)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Precambrian Supereon characterizedBy Great Oxidation Event
Paleoproterozoic Era containsEvent Great Oxidation Event
Mesoproterozoic Era precededBy Great Oxidation Event
Great Oxidation Event alsoKnownAs Great Oxidation Event
this entity surface form: Great Oxygenation Event
Great Oxidation Event alsoKnownAs Great Oxidation Event
this entity surface form: Oxygen Catastrophe
Great Oxidation Event alsoKnownAs Great Oxidation Event
this entity surface form: Oxygen Revolution
Great Oxidation Event alsoKnownAs Great Oxidation Event
this entity surface form: Great Oxidation
Siderian Period associatedWith Great Oxidation Event
Huronian glaciation associatedWith Great Oxidation Event