The oxygen crisis

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 8/13/08 | Peter Tatchell

[Swiss]

The greatest scientist of his day predicted it but Lord Kelvin was so wrong.

http://zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/end_of_free_oxygen.html

[Fichori]

“The high oxygen levels allowed for giant insects and lush fern forest.” [excerpt]

Plants are carbon based.

High oxygen levels does not make plants grow at high rates.

Plants need CO2 to grow. (CO2 is plant food)

Somewhere here on FR I recall something about the earth being at its greenest in a long time.

High CO2 levels mean plants grow fast.

[MediaMole]

From the author's profile on the Guardian...

Peter Tatchell is a human rights campaigner, and a member of the queer rights group OutRage! and the left wing of the Green party

Maybe that explains why his math seems a little queer.

[rfp1234]

Many would just lapse into unconsiousness. In which city is that happening?

In the nation's Crapital...er, Capital.

[SAJ]

You cannot deny that considerable portions of LA and San Fransicko have long since lapsed into unconsciousness, particularly in the areas in and around their respective City Halls.

[SAJ]

GMTA, mate!

[Sacajaweau]

Whatever happen to "logic" and "simplicity"...Plant a tree...Harvest lumber in high burn areas...

I always think of the earth rushing in its' orbit around the sun at 67,000 mph...and wonder what we get pummeled with on our journey. It's not like the earth is a stagnant mass and everything around it is controlled by the human elements.

[okie01]

Somewhere here on FR I recall something about the earth being at its greenest in a long time.

I might be the "guilty party". For several months, I've been citing a study of satellite photography. One of the findings was that the earth is more forested now than at any time since the technology was developed. And that there has been a steady year-to-year increase in forested acreage.

This only makes sense. The time of massive timber use has come and gone worldwide (RR ties, telephone poles). Moreover, what we used to make of wood might now be made of aluminum or plastic. All those farms that grew oats for the horses in the cities have reverted to forest. Since the Dust Bowl days, treelines have become common on the Great Plains where there were none before. The Siberian taiga hasn't experienced any meaningful pressure since the sixties.

If, as the Greenies claim, "the Rain Forest is being destroyed", it sure is happening at a snail's pace.

Plus, of course, the eminent demise of the dead-tree press will significantly shrink the need for paper worldwide. The libs can surely take satisfaction from this development...

[Nipfan]

Don’t laugh. They’ve probably seen the writing on the wall for CO2 and are starting on the next scare. The only question is how they can cash in on it and use it to control every aspect of people’s lives.

[reg45]

Plants take in CO₂ and release O₂.

[Reeses]

Conservatives pass out from oxygen deprivation sooner than Democrats because of more brain cells to feed. The thin air is why Denver voted 70% for Kerry/Edwards. Conservatives can’t function well there. Still alcohol increases the effects of altitude and we’re going to see some especially bizarre behavior coming out of this election’s Democrat confabulation. They won’t be invited back for years to come.

[Libloather]

Compared to prehistoric times...

...not much has evolved in the RAT party...

[Porterville]

You are right. I also made a mistake and called the Paleozoic the Pre Cambrian.

However, the high levels of oxygen for the 100’s of millions of years did have an effect on the plant growth simply because of the variation in atmospheric pressures.

Nitrogen would have decreased in proportion to the increase of Oxygen. Thus, the weight of atmospheric pressure (all things being equal) would increase adding perhaps to the rigidity of nonvascular ferns allowing them to grow more massive....

perhaps..

But, who cares. The point is, I can play Mr. Knowitall jerk too and I usually win.

[TexanToTheCore]

There should be an award for this article. Something like the Urban Illiterate Journalist award. This is such stupidity that it is barely describable.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Compared to prehistoric times, the level of oxygen in the earth's atmosphere has declined by over a third

Which "prehistoric times" is this idiot talking about? The levels have never been constant. I doubt the drops in oxygen levels shown here were caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

No, they MAKE them in journalism school. They aren’t idiots when they go in. Hey, it takes a lot of time, hard work and training to make somebody this dumb! Have some respect for the massive effort this takes. It isn’t easy, I can assure you. lol.

[Libloather]

...you would be gasping for air and barely able to move. Many would just lapse into unconsciousness. In which city is that happening?

San Francisco.

[Obadiah]

Help...can’t... breath...call...Gore....aaahhh!

[ME-262]

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

Too much oxygen will burn your eyes over time.

Can I stop taking all these antioxidants yet?

[ME-262]

Liberals, hold your breath while there is still oxygen left.