Non-steady state phanerozoic carbon and sulfur cycling

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Earth, unlike all other planets of the solar system, is characterized by the active cycling of elements through its atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Models describing the Phanerozoic evolution of these cycles ( e.g., the carbon, oxygen and sulfur cycles), usually apply a steady state approach. However, recently published high resolution C and S isotope data (Weissert & Erba 2004, Paytan et al. 2004) can no longer be explained in the context of a steady state system. Non-steady state mass balance models can successfully explain the above data, but require unrealistically large changes to volcanic or weathering fluxes (Paytan et al. 2004). Furthermore, all published hypotheses to date are unable to reconcile the C and S isotope records, a problem which is often referred to as the central problem of C and S isotope geochemistry (Holser et al 1988).