Its late but this is just too important not to pass along, so I'll keep this short. Recently Scientists have discovered that oxygen in the atmosphere is declining.
O2 Dropping Faster than CO2 Rising
Within the past several years, however, scientists have found that oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere has been dropping, and at higher rates than just the amount that goes into the increase of CO2 from burning fossil fuels, some 2 to 4-times as much, and accelerating since 2002-2003 [1-3]. Simultaneously, oxygen levels in the world’s oceans have also been falling [4] (see Warming Oceans Starved of Oxygen, SiS 44).
It is becoming clear that getting rid of CO2 is not enough; oxygen has its own dynamic and the rapid decline in atmospheric O2 must also be addressed. Although there is much more O2 than CO2 in the atmosphere - 20.95 percent or 209 460 ppm of O2 compared with around 380 ppm of CO2 – humans, all mammals, birds, frogs, butterfly, bees, and other air-breathing life-forms depend on this high level of oxygen for their well being
These findings have implications for our future on this planet that couldn't be more serious.
This data is truly frightening:
The research team confirmed the general upward trend for atmospheric CO2 and a downward trend in atmospheric O2. But since 2003 for JFJ, and mid 2002 for at Puy, there is a significant enhancement of O2 and CO2 trends compared to previous years. At JFJ, the rate of CO2 increase shifted up from 1.08 ppm (parts per million) for the years 2001-2002 to 2.41 ppm/y for 2003-2006; while the increase in D(O2/N2) and APO (measures of oxygen concentration, see Box 1) shifted downwards to greater extents from –2.4 ppm/y and 1.5 ppm/y to 9.5 ppm/y and -6.9 ppm/y respectively.
Not only is the rate of CO2 increase per year, increasing, but the rate of oxygen decline is per year is also increasing as well.
Because of the far larger concentration of oxygen than CO2 in the atmosphere the greater declines in the oxygen (in parts per million) translates to a much smaller decline in oxygen by percentage than the increase in CO2 by percentage.
There is more news on the climate front:
Acidifying Oceans Spell Bleak Marine Biological Future 'by End of Century', Mediterranean Research Finds
ScienceDaily (Aug. 31, 2010) — A unique 'natural laboratory' in the Mediterranean Sea is revealing the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on life in the oceans. The results show a bleak future for marine life as ocean acidity rises, and suggest that similar lowering of ocean pH levels may have been responsible for massive extinctions in the past.
For once I'm at a loss for words.
Hat tip to hannah for the heads up.