...not much has evolved in the RAT party...
Posted on 08/16/2008 3:35:25 PM PDT by gridlock
The rise in carbon dioxide emissions is big news. It is prompting action to reverse global warming. But little or no attention is being paid to the long-term fall in oxygen concentrations and its knock-on effects.
Compared to prehistoric times, the level of oxygen in the earth's atmosphere has declined by over a third and in polluted cities the decline may be more than 50%.
(snip)
In the 20th century, humanity has pumped increasing amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning the carbon stored in coal, petroleum and natural gas. In the process, we've also been consuming oxygen and destroying plant life – cutting down forests at an alarming rate and thereby short-circuiting the cycle's natural rebound. We're artificially slowing down one process and speeding up another, forcing a change in the atmosphere.
(snip)
Surprisingly, no significant research has been done, perhaps on the following presumption: the decline in oxygen levels has taken place over millions of years of our planet's existence...
(snip)
Evidence from prehistoric times indicates that the oxygen content of pristine nature was above the 21% of total volume that it is today. It has decreased in recent times due mainly to the burning of coal in the middle of the last century. Currently the oxygen content of the Earth's atmosphere dips to 19% over impacted areas, and it is down to 12 to 17% over the major cities.
(snip)
Scaremongering? I don't think so. A reason for doomsaying? Not yet. What is needed is an authoritative evidence-based investigation to ascertain current oxygen levels and what consequences, if any, there are for the long-term wellbeing of our species – and, indeed, of all species
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
The greatest scientist of his day predicted it but Lord Kelvin was so wrong.
http://zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/end_of_free_oxygen.html
“The high oxygen levels allowed for giant insects and lush fern forest.” [excerpt]Plants are carbon based.
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.
In the nation's Crapital...er, Capital.
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.
GMTA, mate!
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.
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...
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.
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.
...not much has evolved in the RAT party...
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.
There should be an award for this article. Something like the Urban Illiterate Journalist award. This is such stupidity that it is barely describable.
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.
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.
San Francisco.
Help...can’t... breath...call...Gore....aaahhh!
Too much oxygen will burn your eyes over time.
Can I stop taking all these antioxidants yet?
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