New constraints on ancient atmospheric gas concentrations from fluid inclusions in surface materials
Authors
Pettitt, Elizabeth A.
ORCID
Loading...
Other Contributors
Schaller, Morgan F.
Watson, E. Bruce
Wagner, Sasha
Shelley, Jacob T., 1984-
Watson, E. Bruce
Wagner, Sasha
Shelley, Jacob T., 1984-
Issue Date
2020-05
Keywords
Geology
Degree
PhD
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
Full Citation
Abstract
This has huge implications for ancient atmospheric reconstructions; if modern soil carbonate nodules record current atmospheric conditions then ancient soil carbonate nodules have the potential to record ancient atmospheric compositions assuming they have not been heavily buried or altered. With that in mind, the final chapter of this dissertation delves into constraining ancient atmospheric pO2 during the Carboniferous using soil carbonate-hosted fluid inclusions collected in Pennsylvania. Here we constrain the pO2 during the Carboniferous to be around 26% which aligns with model predictions. The overarching theme of this work is the betterment of proxy methods in reconstructing ancient atmospheric conditions throughout Earth history using various low temperature geologic materials.
Description
May 2020
School of Science
School of Science
Department
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
Access
Restricted to current Rensselaer faculty, staff and students. Access inquiries may be directed to the Rensselaer Libraries.