Nitrogen Isotopes in Deep Time

Nitrogen Isotopes in Deep Time by Colin Mettam, published by Cambridge University Press on February 18, 2021, is a concise exploration of the role of nitrogen as an essential nutrient throughout Earth’s history. This edition spans 75 pages and is presented in English. The book reviews the significance of stable isotope ratios of nitrogen compounds, specifically δ15N, preserved in the sedimentary record, which provide insights into the evolution of the global nitrogen cycle over geological time.

Readers will find a detailed examination of the challenges associated with interpreting nitrogen stable isotope geochemistry, including issues of preservation and the distinction between local and global effects. The text also includes several case studies that emphasize the importance of depositional and stratigraphic context in accurately interpreting δ15N records from ancient marine sediments, covering both anoxic environments from the Archean era and well-oxygenated conditions from the Phanerozoic. This work contributes to the fields of Earth sciences, environmental science, and oceanography.