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The rise in oxygen is attributed to photosynthesis by cyanobacteria, which are thought to have evolved as early as 3.5 billion years ago. [ 18 ] The current scientific understanding of when and how the Earth's atmosphere changed from a weakly reducing to a strongly oxidizing atmosphere largely began with the work of the American geologist ...
Solar luminosity was 30% dimmer when the Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, [14] and it is expected to increase in luminosity approximately 10% per billion years in the future. [15] On very long time scales, the evolution of the sun is also an important factor in determining Earth's climate.
Sometime in the next 1.5–4.5 billion years, Earth's axial tilt may begin to undergo chaotic variations, with changes in the axial tilt of up to 90°. [ 11 ] The luminosity of the Sun will steadily increase, causing a rise in the solar radiation reaching Earth and resulting in a higher rate of weathering of silicate minerals .
This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 26 February 2025. Scientific projections regarding the far future Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see List of numbers and List of years. Artist's concept of the Earth 5–7.5 billion years from now, when the Sun has become a red giant While the future cannot be predicted with certainty ...
A collapse under the enormous gravity is prevented by an increase in temperature, which is both cause and effect of a higher rate of nuclear fusion. More recent modeling studies have shown that the Sun is currently 1.4 times as bright today than it was 4.6 billion years ago (Ga), and that the brightening has accelerated considerably. [8]
The green, orange and yellow lines indicate how surface temperatures will likely respond if leading carbon emitters begin to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Without immediate curbs, temperatures are set to follow the red track, and increase between 3.2 and 5.4 degrees Celsius by 2100. The green line shows how we can minimize warming if ...
The first known mass extinction was the Great Oxidation Event 2.4 billion years ago, which killed most of the planet's obligate anaerobes. Researchers have identified five other major extinction events in Earth's history, with estimated losses below: [11] End Ordovician: 440 million years ago, 86% of all species lost, including graptolites
A greenhouse period ran from 4.6 to 2.4 billion years ago. Huronian glaciation – an icehouse period that ran from 2.4 billion to 2.1 billion years ago; A greenhouse period ran from 2.1 billion to 720 million years ago. Cryogenian – an icehouse period that ran from 720 to 635 million years ago during which the entire Earth was at times ...