Earth's oxygen rise linked to tectonic plate shifts

New research suggests a strong correlation between shifts in tectonic plate subduction and the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere. Scientists propose that changes in the temperature of subducting plates influenced the amount of carbon and sulfur drawn into the planet's interior. When plates subducted into cooler mantle, they retained more carbon and sulfur, preventing them from returning to the atmosphere via volcanoes. This process aligns with major oxygenation events, including the Great Oxygenation Event and subsequent increases, suggesting geological processes played a crucial role alongside biological factors in creating our oxygen-rich atmosphere.