oxygen catastrophe
The "oxygen catastrophe" is a pivotal event in Earth's history marked by a dramatic rise in atmospheric oxygen levels, profoundly impacting life and climate.
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Definition
C1Earth's History
(technical, academic)A major event about 2.4 billion years ago when photosynthetic organisms increased oxygen in the atmosphere, leading to mass extinction of anaerobic life.
Example
- The oxygen catastrophe reshaped Earth's biosphere and paved the way for aerobic organisms.
- Scientists study the oxygen catastrophe to understand how life on Earth has evolved.
C2Exobiology
(theoretical, academic)A hypothetical event on other planets where oxygen levels rise dramatically, potentially causing extinction of anaerobic life forms.
Example
- Researchers speculate about an oxygen catastrophe occurring on exoplanets with photosynthetic life.
- An oxygen catastrophe on another world could mirror the transformative events on early Earth.