Quote:
Originally Posted by skarra
We can certainly measure the increasing ocean water temperatures which has a direct impact on the severity of the storms we've been experiencing. But something that Musk highlighted during his recent conversation with a certain ex-President was the effect the rising levels of CO2 in our atmosphere will have on the human race.
In addition to the need to be moving to a more sustainable energy economy meaning getting away from oil and gas (demonstrating how short sighted a drill baby drill strategy is), he pointed out that as CO2 levels continue to rise we will be subjected to physiological problems like headaches and nausea and then ultimately it even becomes uncomfortable to breathe. The levels we are talking about are 1,000 PPM which based upon on the trajectory we are on will be by the end of this century (the actual trajectory since 1960 has been a straight line upwards thanks to industry and our addiction to fossil fuels - Trends in CO2 - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps CO2 Program).
So rather than climate change and the warming of our planet, maybe we should be thinking about the problems associated with elevated CO2 levels including our ability to breathe. Based upon that, burning more fossil fuels will only exacerbate that problem. That's at least one thing that I think Musk is getting right.
Food for thought. Makes me want to buy an EV or at least a hybrid next time I buy a car. |
So, 400 parts per million, is equal to 0.04% of our atmosphere. Plants require CO2 to produce oxygen.
While plants can utilize a range of CO2 levels, the optimal percentage for most plant life is considered to be around 0.03% or 300 parts per million (ppm), which is close to the current atmospheric concentration; however, increasing CO2 levels within a reasonable range can often boost plant growth in controlled environments like greenhouses up to around 1000 ppm.
Key points about CO2 and plant life:
Minimum level:
Plants can still photosynthesize at lower CO2 levels, but their growth will be significantly reduced.
Optimal level:
Most plants experience maximum photosynthetic activity around 300-1000 ppm CO2.
According to research, the minimum CO2 concentration considered necessary for plant life is around 150 parts per million (ppm), below which plants struggle to survive and reproduce effectively; at extremely low levels, photosynthesis would be significantly hampered and plants could die off.
So, this is me analyzing those numbers. If the plants die off below 150 parts per million, and stop producing oxygen, at what level do scientists agree we should we reduce CO2 to? How much CO2 is actually manmade compared to forest fires, volcanos, and other natural releases of CO2?