Today, an articles title I found through Google caught my attention. The article's title is, "Earths Oxygen Levels are Declining and Scientists Dont Know Why?".
Of course, I immidiately became curious. How could scientisits not know why? What the hell.....
According to the article in Forbes magazine:
"Air bubbles trapped within ice provides clues to the atmospheric composition at the time of "deposition" and can be analyzed for paleo-oxygen levels. The study finds that over the past 800,000 years the amount of oxygen found in the atmosphere has decreased by 0.7% and continues to decline.
Fortunately, the 0.7% decline is not something that will or has caused significant problems for life on Earth. An equivalent decrease in oxygen content would accompany a change in elevation from sea level to 100 meters above sea level".
Just imagine 0.7% for 800,000 years. That rate has probably significantly accelerated since the industrial revolution. Since the making of automobiles that run on fuel, global transportation, aircraft heavily reliant on fuel, factories, etc. All this began in the 1900's. So it's really only been a little over 100 years. That's not a whole lot for all of the damage that has occurred on Earth. Now can you picture that 0.7% becoming let's say 1% in the next 25, 45 or even 50 years? I sure can.
Not to sound like a tree hugger but I speculate this has something to do with the large quantities of deforestation as well as trees and plants that are being removed to build, build, build! for money, money, money!
Money is GREAT. Even though, I consider myself a simple person, I'm not gonna lie; I like money. Why? Because it can get me essentials I need and a little extra to have some fun and travel or what not. BUT....Do I need a whole lot? No. Do we all need a whole lot? No. But we live in a day and age of excess. Money seems to be one of those things that is never enough. You think some millionares hit a plateau where they feel they have more than enough and don't need to kill more to get more...but the reality is ...the psychology is actually there is such a thing as a baseline happiness level and once we reach that high, get comfortable in it, then we start to feel as though we need more. Something bigger, better, a taller step, a nicer car, a bigger house. You get th point.
I mean, when you think about it, from a photosynthesis standpoint, trees and plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale clean oxygen. I"m sure there is MUCH more to the process of maintaining 02 levels in the atmosphere but I still strongly believe the removal of trees and plants has something to do with this.
It's sad to imagine that by the time im an elderly woman, about forty to fifty years from now there will be significantly less trees, plants and nature in general. The oceans will be even more acidic. WE may as well grow our own "organic" Salmon from home with the way things are headed.
I'm not trying to be a pessimistic but rather spread awareness as to what is going on. We are all connected on this planet. Animals, the ocean, the climate, human and human behavior etc. When one goes down all of the other systems which are so closely interconnected with life on earth are significantly affected too :(
Think about this. Please play your part on Earth. Be a good citizen. Don't liter. Don't over consume. Live simple. BE good to animals and nature. Go eco-friendly whenever possible.
