Exploring multiple steady states in Earth's long-term carbon cycle

• DOI: 10.2475/07.2021.01
• Publication Date: 2021-10-19T15:02:02Z
• Authors: Benjamin J. W. Mills; Stephen Tennenbaum; David Schwartzman
• Keywords: Drawdown (hydrology); Carbon fibers

The long-term carbon cycle regulates Earth's climate and atmospheric CO2 levels over multimillion-year timescales, but it is not clear that this system has a single steady state for given input rate of CO2. In paper we explore the possibility multiple states in system. Using simple box model, show location precipitation bands around tropics high mid-latitudes, coupled with response terrestrial biosphere to local surface temperature, can result bi-stability. Here, maximum drawdown occur when either or mid-latitudes are at photosynthetic optimum temperature 25°C, period instability exist between these states. We suggest dynamic influenced variations Phanerozoic time, higher temperatures may be easier reach than commonly demonstrated ‘GEOCARB style’ models.