Re: Great Size and Oxygen Content of Atmosphere

["Nicholas J. Pharris" <pharrinj@PLU.edu>]

On Fri, 26 Jan 1996, John Schneiderman wrote:

> 
> 
> On Thu, 25 Jan 1996, Gary Bull wrote:
> 
> > There was a theory that the oxygen content of the earth's atmosphere was 
> > greater when very large dinosaurs roamed the earth, enabling them to grow 
> > large.  Can't remember anything else about the theory or whether it was 
> > disproved (or unprovable).  
> 
> During a Historical Geology class the professor stated during the 
> Cretaceous, cocoliths (calcium carbonate critters) were so numerous that 
> the oxygen to carbon dioxide ratios became inbalanced, producing a higher 
> than normal oxygen levels.
> 
> Check out an introductory Historical Geology textbook and take a look...
> 
> ---John Schneiderman (dino@revelation.unomaha.edu)

Certainly would have made it easier for the dinosaurs to oxygenate those 
enormous endothermic bodies! :-)

Nick Pharris
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(206)535-8204
PharriNJ@PLU.edu

"If you can't convince them, confuse them." -- Harry S. Truman