Geological History of Oxygen

Resource Type
Description
This interactive module explores how the changes in oxygen levels throughout Earth’s history have impacted the planet’s environment and types of life.
Today, oxygen (O2) makes up about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere, but oxygen levels in both the atmosphere and ocean were much lower in Earth’s past. In this Click & Learn, students explore an interactive graph of atmospheric oxygen levels over the last 3.8 billion years, which covers three geologic eons: the Archean, the Proterozoic, and the Phanerozoic. The graph includes descriptions of the biological and geological factors that influenced oxygen levels in different time periods, and how life on Earth was affected.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, biodiversity, Carboniferous, cyanobacteria, eukaryote, Great Oxygenation Event (GOE), microorganism, photosynthesis, timeline
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-ESS2.D
AP Biology (2019)
ENE-1.H, ENE-1.N
IB Biology (2016)
2.8, 8.2
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 2.5, 4.4
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.G, ERT-4.D, SP1, SP2, SP5
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
2.5, 6.1
Vision and Change (2009)
CC5