By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos
Probably to the relief of climate change deniers, I am not particularly worried about carbon emissions.
Instead, I have greater concerns about oxygen levels in the atmosphere. The typical oxygen level in the atmosphere is approximately 21 percent. The minimum level required to sustain human life is 19.5 percent. In the last century, oxygen levels have decreased by approximately 0.1 percent. This would lead one to believe that there is no problem.
I began to think about combustion processes (that is, combustion of coal, oil, natural gas, wood, paper, plastic, garbage, etc.). Whenever something containing carbon is burned, it consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (for example, nitrogen oxide or nitrogen dioxide), and water (or hydrogen oxide). During combustion, it would appear that somewhere between two to three oxygen molecules are consumed for every atom of carbon which is burned. So this might help to explain why oxygen concentrations have decreased by 0.1 percent.
Wikipedia indicates that the principal components of volcanic gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur either as sulfur dioxide (SO2) (high-temperature volcanic gases) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (low-temperature volcanic gases), nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
Drilling natural gas wells, fracking operations, and decomposition of animal waste and plant waste probably account for the release of methane and other gases. Britannica indicates that natural gas contains methane and ethane. Other gases that commonly occur in association with the hydrocarbon gases are nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and such noble gases as helium and argon.
On humid days, there is additional water mixed in with oxygen and nitrogen in the air. This lowers the over-all concentration of oxygen.
Then there are little problems like industrial accidents (for example, fires in refineries, chemical plants, and fertilizer plants). Fires can occur in any kind of building and release products of combustion (for example, office buildings, warehouses, movie theaters, etc.). Large-scale leaks may occur in chemical plants (for example, methyl isocyanate released in Bhopol, India). Small-scale or fugitive leaks may occur from tanks, pumps, compressors, etc. containing hydrocarbons and a variety of other gases and chemical vapors.
Then there are transportation incidents. An example is the explosion of ammonium nitrate in a ship at anchor in Texas City in 1947. Recently, there was a release of vinyl chloride monomer combustion products following the derailment of a Norfolk and Southern railroad train.
Then there was the release/venting of hydrogen from the Three Mile Island nuclear facility.
On the positive side, green plants tend to sequester a variety of hydrocarbons, chemicals and carbon dioxide releasing oxygen through photosynthesis in turn. Geological interactions (for example, interactions with silicates) also helps to absorb some chemicals and carbon dioxide.
The destruction of plant life has a negative effect on the amount of oxygen produced from photosynthesis. Destruction might include cutting down large portions of forests. Forest fires destroy plant life, consume oxygen and create products of combustion.
The destruction of soil decreases the ability to grow plants and crops. To maintain soil requires intelligent agricultural practices (for example, crop rotation) as well as careful use of water to prevent desertification. Loss of fertile topsoil as a result of destructive mining processes is also a concern. Ash accumulations form coal-burning utility facilities may also destroy plants and soil through the release of toxic chemicals into the environment.
Increases in human population and animal populations increase the amount of oxygen consumed and increase the amount of carbon dioxide and methane released. Human populations continues to grow, but that growth has not always been accomplished in a sustainable manner. The result has been a quest for riches/space/empire, over-crowding in urban areas, loss of habitat, destruction of plant life, famine, disease, war, and death. A significant problem is how to maintain humans at an appropriate temperature of approximately 72 degrees F. Appropriate clothing can assist with this issue. However, humans typically require heat and air conditioning in various environments. Heating and cooling are both dependent on sources of energy. Passive solar heating systems do a very good job of providing heating requirements without decreasing oxygen levels.
Our job as human beings is not to ravage the earth as well as the plants, animals and people on the earth. Our job is to replenish the earth as well as the plants, animals and people on the earth. I recall the movie the Treasure of the Sierra Madres (starring Humphrey Bogart) where an old miner insisted on restoring the land after the effort to mine for gold was completed.
Having sufficient oxygen for animals and humans to breathe appears to be dependent on the following:
- Making a commitment to sustaining life and replenishing the earth (the earth was around a long time before plants, animals, people and money);
- Maintaining and/or increasing the amount of plant life;
- minimizing residential/business/industrial/transportation accidents;
- Controlling population growth in a sustainable manner;
- Implementing sustainable agricultural practices;
- Providing adequate distance between people and industrial facilities to prevent localized decreases in oxygen levels and;
- Designing and constructing sustainable buildings which provide adequate heating and cooling with minimal use of energy sources.
*Apollo 13 lost its supply of oxygen as the result of an accident. A makeshift system was created to remove carbon dioxide from the air which the astronauts were breathing. Similarly, humans and animals are living on “Earth 13.” If emissions from the use of fossil fuels are the elephant in the living room, then the localized depletion of oxygen in the environment is the whale in the basement.
