Euxinia

Euxinia or euxinic conditions occur when water is both anoxic and sulfidic. This means that there is no oxygen (O2) and a raised level of free hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Euxinic bodies of water are frequently strongly stratified; have an oxic, highly productive, thin surface layer; and have anoxic, sulfidic bottom water. The word "euxinia" is derived from the Greek name for the Black Sea (Εὔξεινος Πόντος (Euxeinos Pontos)) which translates to "hospitable sea".[1] Euxinic deep water is a key component of the Canfield ocean, a model of oceans during part of the Proterozoic eon (a part specifically known as the Boring Billion) proposed by Donald Canfield, an American geologist, in 1998.[2] There is still debate within the scientific community on both the duration and frequency of euxinic conditions in the ancient oceans.[3] Euxinia is relatively rare in modern bodies of water, but does still happen in places like the Black Sea and certain fjords.

  1. ^ Meyer, Katja M.; Kump, Lee R. (2008-04-29). "Oceanic Euxinia in Earth History: Causes and Consequences". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 36 (1): 251–288. Bibcode:2008AREPS..36..251M. doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.36.031207.124256. S2CID 140715755.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Lyons, Timothy W. (2008-08-15). "Ironing Out Ocean Chemistry at the Dawn of Animal Life". Science. 321 (5891): 923–924. doi:10.1126/science.1162870. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 18703731. S2CID 38446103.