A method of furnace atmosphere control for a calcination furnace for the production of a lithium ion battery cathode material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) measuring a first oxygen concentration, a first moisture concentration and a first carbon dioxide concentration of an atmosphere inside a first zone of the calcination furnace; (b) measuring a second oxygen concentration, a second moisture concentration and a second carbon dioxide concentration of an atmosphere inside a second zone of the calcination furnace, wherein the second zone adjoins the first zone and a border between the first and second zones is located where a temperature of the atmosphere reaches a predetermined soaking temperature; (c) supplying an oxygen process gas comprising at least 50 percent oxygen by volume, independently, to the first and second zones of the calcination furnace; (d) controlling a flow rate of a first stream of oxygen process gas into the first zone as a function of at least one selected from the group of (i) the first oxygen concentration measured in step (a), (ii) the first moisture concentration measured in step(a), and (iii) the first carbon dioxide concentration measured in step (a); (e) controlling a flow rate of a second stream of oxygen process gas into the second zone as a function of at least one selected from the group of (i) the second oxygen concentration measured in step (b), (ii) the second moisture concentration measured in step (b), and (iii) the second carbon dioxide concentration measured in step (b); and (f) maintaining the flow rate of the first stream of oxygen process gas at or below the flow rate of the second stream of oxygen process gas, to prevent a gaseous flow from the first zone into the second zone; wherein step (d) further comprises increasing the flow rate of the first stream of oxygen process gas if at least one selected from the group of (i) the first oxygen concentration measured in step (a) is less than a predetermined setpoint, (ii) the first moisture concentration measured in step (a) is greater than a predetermined set point, and (iii) the first carbon dioxide concentration measured in step (a) is greater than a predetermined set point; and wherein, preferably, the method further comprises (h) repeating steps (a) through (f) while simultaneously heating, gradually, the first zone to a first temperature and maintaining the second zone at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature. (a) measuring a first oxygen concentration, a first moisture concentration and a first carbon dioxide concentration of an atmosphere inside a first zone of the calcination furnace; (b) measuring a second oxygen concentration, a second moisture concentration and a second carbon dioxide concentration of an atmosphere inside a second zone of the calcination furnace, wherein the second zone adjoins the first zone and a border between the first and second zones is located where a temperature of the atmosphere reaches a predetermined soaking temperature; (c) supplying an oxygen process gas comprising at least 50 percent oxygen by volume, independently, to the first and second zones of the calcination furnace; (d) controlling a flow rate of a first stream of oxygen process gas into the first zone as a function of at least one selected from the group of (i) the first oxygen concentration measured in step (a), (ii) the first moisture concentration measured in step(a), and (iii) the first carbon dioxide concentration measured in step (a); (e) controlling a flow rate of a second stream of oxygen process gas into the second zone as a function of at least one selected from the group of (i) the second oxygen concentration measured in step (b), (ii) the second moisture concentration measured in step (b), and (iii) the second carbon dioxide concentration measured in step (b); and (f) maintaining the flow rate of the first stream of oxygen process gas at or below the flow rate of the second stream of oxygen process gas, to prevent a gaseous flow from the first zone into the second zone; wherein step (d) further comprises increasing the flow rate of the first stream of oxygen process gas if at least one selected from the group of (i) the first oxygen concentration measured in step (a) is less than a predetermined setpoint, (ii) the first moisture concentration measured in step (a) is greater than a predetermined set point, and (iii) the first carbon dioxide concentration measured in step (a) is greater than a predetermined set point; and wherein, preferably, the method further comprises (h) repeating steps (a) through (f) while simultaneously heating, gradually, the first zone to a first temperature and maintaining the second zone at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature.