[Terrapreta] Dinosaur Carbon

[David Hirst .com]

I understand that the main hypothesis is that the O2 level is regulated by fire, as well
as by life. If the level is much above 20% then there is a greater tendency for stuff to
burn. Plants will always tend to increase the oxygen. Animals take advantage of this
level, although lower O2 levels can support life.

Of course, it will be much more complex than this.

One aspect that is regulated is the concentration of salt in the sea. It has been very
constant for a long time, but quite what regulates it in this way is now understood.

David

 

David Hirst

 <mailto:david at davidhirst.com> david at davidhirst.com

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From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of MFH
Sent: 20 April 2008 06:20
To: 'Tom Miles'; 'Terra Preta'
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Dinosaur Carbon

 

Tom

 

a)       I suppose to answer the first question we'd need to know atmospheric carbon
levels when oil was made between 10 and 160 million years ago. However conventional
wisdom is that the oil was formed from marine plants and animals and not terrestrial.

b)      It's a bit of a myth that increasing Co2 levels will enhance plant growth. Co2 is
only one of the many factors influencing rate of growth - think sunlight, water,
nitrogen, P, K, trace elements and temperature amongst the rest. Increasing any one of
these will not necessarily improve growth if any one or more of the others are in limited
supply. In closed nursery conditions increasing Co2 only works if lots of other
requirements are also increased.

 

Another puzzle is the level of O2. The Gaia Theory postulates that this level has been
around 21% for a very long time and that the Earth has various adjusting mechanisms that
have resulted in this stability. From what I understand if O2 was increased only by 2% a
fire in a dripping wet rainforest would burn until all the fuelwood was gone. And if it
was only 2% lower then we'd perish. Maybe we're also heading there. The Australian
CSIRO's figures show that O2 levels have dropped 0.03% in the last 20 years. Makes sense
- can't have more Co2 without using more O2.

 

M

 

 

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From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Tom Miles
Sent: Sunday, 20 April 2008 3:02 PM
To: 'Terra Preta'
Subject: [Terrapreta] Dinosaur Carbon

 

If the carbon that was converted to oil and coal was once part of vegetation above ground
why does it create a problem to bring it out of the ground now? Isn't it all part of the
same inventory? Was there more vegetation in prehistoric times? Why can't "dinosaur"
carbon just create more vegetation when it is oxidized?

 

Tom

 

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