Thread: Oxygen and Carbon dioxide

C+O2=CO2

So as we see an increase in CO2 in our atmosphere shouldn't we also see a related decrease in the oxygen levels.

Oxygen is given as making up 19-21% of the Earths' atmosphere but it can vary considerably locally. At levels below 15% it becomes increasingly difficult to breath.

Should we be worried about climate change caused by increases in CO2 levles, or the resultant decrease in O2 levels which could have a more immediate effect?

http://www.trufax.org/general/oxygen.html

if you look at where the CO2 is being produced, like combustion and the likes, which is resulting in an incresse, you could say there is a reduction in O2

but the plants are still removing the some of the CO2 (not enough to combat the incress) they are still producing O2

i suppose there could be cause for concern, but i dont think i have heard or read that there was.

has the been any studies? its hard to say without data.

I don't know of any studies, I was wondering if this is an issue that is being considered.

With the loss of tropical and temperate forests and the increase of CO2 production there could be a decline in the O2.

I'm really not an expert on this stuff but my first thought is, I'd see how global warming might effect the blue-green algae which produce much of the oxygen in our atmosphere. I do know that oxygen gets gobbled up pretty rapidly and it needs to be continually replaced in the atmosphere by algae and whatever else is responsible.

Originally Posted by Neutrino

I'm really not an expert on this stuff but my first thought is, I'd see how global warming might effect the blue-green algae which produce much of the oxygen in our atmosphere. I do know that oxygen gets gobbled up pretty rapidly and it needs to be continually replaced in the atmosphere by algae and whatever else is responsible.

There's also an increase in ocean acidity associated with higher atmospheric CO2 levels. Some studies have already shown an effect on the calcium carbonate shell development of zooplankton, I wonder what effect higher acidicy will have on phytoplankton.

Is there anything that can break CO2 up back into Carbon & Oxygen ? (perhaps that we could create giant filtering plants that suck in the air and break CO2 up ?

Although........if global warming increases it wont be CO2 that we will have to worry about. It will be the metane that will be released from the ocean floor. Then we WILL be screwed ! There's no going back then !

Originally Posted by leohopkins

Is there anything that can break CO2 up back into Carbon & Oxygen ? (perhaps that we could create giant filtering plants that suck in the air and break CO2 up ?

Yes all you have to do is leave out the word "filtering" from your sentence and you have it.

ie trees etc wood is comprised of a high percentage of carbon, the tree excretes oxygen as a waste product.

Originally Posted by leohopkins

Is there anything that can break CO2 up back into Carbon & Oxygen ? (perhaps that we could create giant filtering plants that suck in the air and break CO2 up ?

Although........if global warming increases it wont be CO2 that we will have to worry about. It will be the metane that will be released from the ocean floor. Then we WILL be screwed ! There's no going back then !

Yah, I think trying to limit CO2 emissions is a mistake. Instead there should be massive research on how to remove the eccess CO2.

You don't want to take to much out though, or we'll slip into another iceage. It's about finding a balance point I guess.

Compared to the effect of Clouds retaining heat - the effect of CO2 is miniscule, think about it, how much warmer an overcast winter night is to a clear one, now compare the clouds on Earth to Venus, and you'll see rain ain't such a bad thing after all!

It's all linked though.

More CO2 does mean a gradual increase of mean temp increasing the evoporation rates and producing more water vapor to form more clouds.

Venus is a cautionary tale, if a runaway greenhouse effect ever takes off here that will be all she wrote for advanced life on Earth.

Yah, I think trying to limit CO2 emissions is a mistake. Instead there should be massive research on how to remove the eccess CO2.

i disagree, both should be manageable. no doubt its just we cant see how. Policymakers cant see how.

i see, durring a 15 minute walk from where i live in dublin, beside the a very busy road, too many SUV's driving into town. If we could even ban them, put limits on where they can drive? i understand freedom, if i want a large jeep no one should stop, but if ireland can put VAT on any car imported to ireland makin them very expensive, they can TAX the bloody things casuing the damage. the same journey sees a bus drive by, not nearly full.

as for removing the CO2, yeah a pretty good idea. more trees in places where trees are welcome naturally and by the public, suppport research. but we can do both these things.

but no one wants too. a few penguins die in the artic, but the south of ireland will boom, as a holiday resort? is it worth it?

Even if there is a way to remove all that CO2 that hasnt been found yet, and if reseach is being undertakin to find it, its still 5 or more likely 10 to 20 years down the line. too late, at least we can start now
no one wants to. (no one that matters anywho)

If the planet's heat continues to rise, the methane gas that is trapped in the oceans bedrock could be released, bubble up to the surface then into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 8 times stronger than CO2.

Please read my "Hungry Trees" post for my idea.

Originally Posted by goodgod3rd

Yah, I think trying to limit CO2 emissions is a mistake. Instead there should be massive research on how to remove the eccess CO2.

i disagree, both should be manageable. no doubt its just we cant see how. Policymakers cant see how.

i see, durring a 15 minute walk from where i live in dublin, beside the a very busy road, too many SUV's driving into town. If we could even ban them, put limits on where they can drive? i understand freedom, if i want a large jeep no one should stop, but if ireland can put VAT on any car imported to ireland makin them very expensive, they can TAX the bloody things casuing the damage. the same journey sees a bus drive by, not nearly full.

as for removing the CO2, yeah a pretty good idea. more trees in places where trees are welcome naturally and by the public, suppport research. but we can do both these things.

but no one wants too. a few penguins die in the artic, but the south of ireland will boom, as a holiday resort? is it worth it?

Even if there is a way to remove all that CO2 that hasnt been found yet, and if reseach is being undertakin to find it, its still 5 or more likely 10 to 20 years down the line. too late, at least we can start now
no one wants to. (no one that matters anywho)

Politics make it difficult to agree to limits on emissions, my feeling is by the time they finally work out international agreements it's already going to be too late. Countries like China are rapidly developing but have no real environmental controls and could easily negate any progress made in other places.

Personally I think that this country could do with a complete public transportation system overhaul.

I would like to see frequent monorail trains running regional routes and maglev train systems running inter-city links.

I did read your hungry trees post, and using natures natural methods is an excelent idea in theory.

politics, is a two sided coin. and on this issue, its realy stuck in the mud. i agree it will be too late by the time it becomes practise.

Countries like China are rapidly developing but have no real environmental controls and could easily negate any progress made in other places.

people often say something along those lines, and true enough countrys that have no or dont want to control the emmisions could damage anything the stars that are working hard to reverse what we, as rapidly developed countrys for the past, 200 (or more) years have done. we cant really blame them for playing catch up, but we need to convince them to take the same action as we do.

and i feel helpless. honestly.

The more I learn about climate change and habitat destruction the more frightened I get. Maybe when enough people understand the dimensions of the problem, something effective will be done. Whether or not it will be too late is yet to be seen. I hope it won't be.