English Explanatory Dictionary

oxygen catastrophe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An event during the oxygenation event of Earth's past, where the level of free oxygen in the environment exceeds the tolerance levels of most extant anaerobic life.
  2. Such an event that theoretically occurs elsewhere, away from Earth.
name
  1. Synonym of Great Oxygenation Event.

Word forms

oxygen catastrophe oxygen catastrophes the Oxygen Catastrophe

Etymology

From oxygen + catastrophe. From the accumulation of atmospheric oxygen, which was toxic to the anaerobic organisms existing at the time. This process led to a widespread extinction of those life forms.

Synonyms

oxygen crisis oxygen holocaust oxygenation crisis oxygenation holocaust oxygenation catastrophe Great Oxygenation Event

Related words

ultraviolet catastrophe vacuum catastrophe
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