Articles | Volume 21, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-239-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-239-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
28 Jan 2025
Research article |
| 28 Jan 2025
| 28 Jan 2025
Exploring the mechanisms of Devonian oceanic anoxia: impact of ocean dynamics, palaeogeography, and orbital forcing
Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Loïc Sablon
Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Jarno J. C. Huygh
Department of Geology, University of Liège, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Anne-Christine Da Silva
Department of Geology, University of Liège, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Alexandre Pohl
Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Christian Vérard
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, 13 Rue des Maraîchers, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Michel Crucifix
Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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We studied how changes in Earth’s orbit affected ocean oxygen during the Devonian, a time of repeated environmental crises and extinctions. Using computer simulations, we show that certain orbital cycles, especially eccentricity maxima, exacerbate oxygen loss in the oceans, while obliquity also played a key role at high latitudes. The results also help explain why records from different places show contrasting signals and provide new insight into how natural climate cycles can affect ocean life.
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Short summary
We used cGENIE, a climate model, to explore how changes in continental configuration, CO2 levels, and orbital configuration affected ocean oxygen levels during the Devonian period (419–359 million years ago). Key factors contributing to ocean anoxia were identified, highlighting the influence of continental configurations, atmospheric conditions, and orbital changes. Our findings offer new insights into the causes and prolonged durations of Devonian ocean anoxic events.
We used cGENIE, a climate model, to explore how changes in continental configuration, CO2...
