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Surprising Discovery Shows a Strong Link Between Earth's Magnetic Field and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels
- A study published on 13 June in Science Advances found that variations in Earth's geomagnetic intensity over the past 540 million years have closely paralleled changes in the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere.
- This research arose from long-standing scientific interest in how Earth's molten interior, which generates its magnetic field, might influence atmospheric conditions and habitability.
- The analysis revealed that changes in the strength of Earth's geomagnetic dipole closely correspond with variations in atmospheric oxygen levels, with both reaching their highest values during a period spanning roughly 220 to 330 million years ago.
- Benjamin Mills acknowledged that the exact reasons behind the observed correlation remain unclear but highlighted that the connection points to plausible causes that could be investigated through future research linking Earth's interior processes to surface life.
- These findings imply a previously unrecognized connection affecting Earth's atmosphere and biosphere longevity, estimated to continue for another one billion years before oxygen levels decline.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Surprising discovery shows a strong link between Earth's magnetic field and atmospheric oxygen levels
Every breath we take in contains 21% oxygen, the gas that makes life on Earth possible. Oxygen, in its combined oxide state, has always been abundant in Earth's crust, but elemental diatomic oxygen became part of our atmosphere around 2.4 to 2.5 billion years ago as a gift from cyanobacteria, which triggered the Great Oxidation Event and breathed life into Earth.
NASA scientists find ties between Earth's oxygen and magnetic field
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jun 21, 2025 For 540 million years, the ebb and flow in the strength of Earth's magnetic field has correlated with fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen, according to a newly released analysis by NASA scientists. The research suggests that processes deep inside the Earth might influence habitability on the planet's surface. Earth's magnetic field arises from the flow of material in the planet's molten int
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