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Re: Mystery of Mass Extinctions Is No Longer Murky
In practical terms I agree, although will point out that life as we know
it might be over before that point is reached. However, due to my
continuing skepticism re the constancy of atmospheric N through
post-Archean time, I don't have your level of certainty.
I don't see what could have happened to the chemically extremely stable
nitrogen...
You seem to be saying that even a 97% CO2 atmosphere (er, from some
totally hypothetical extraterrestrial CO2 source for example) wouldn't
start a runaway on Earth. This aroused my curiosity. Is that what you
meant?
Oh, no. I'm saying we have no chance of getting a 97 % CO2 atmosphere unless
we somehow dissolve all limestone in the world. Even the worst-case scenario
(the whole world turns into a tropical paradise) is about 0.1 %, and that
would require a massive methane burp that is, judging from the last 55
million years, not very probable.