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The global oxygen budget and its future projection.
Jianping Huang1, Jiping Huang2, Xiaoyue Liu1
1Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Science Bulletin
|February 8, 2023
Summary
Human activities, primarily fossil fuel combustion, are depleting atmospheric oxygen (O2). This study quantifies the oxygen deficit, highlighting the urgent need for action to conserve this vital resource.
Area of Science:
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Background:
- Atmospheric oxygen (O2) is essential for aerobic life, enabling energy release from macromolecules.
- Understanding the global O2 budget and its historical changes is critical for environmental monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically analyze the global oxygen budget over the past 100 years.
- To quantify the impact of anthropogenic activities on atmospheric oxygen levels.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of historical data on oxygen consumption.
- Modeling future oxygen trends under various emission scenarios (RCP8.5).
Main Results:
- Anthropogenic fossil fuel combustion is the primary driver of the current oxygen deficit.
- Oxygen consumption increased from 2.0 Gt/a in 1900 to 38.2 Gt/a in 2015.
- Projected O2 decline to 20.825% by 2100 under RCP8.5 scenario, with ~100 Gt O2 removed annually.
Conclusions:
- Human activities have led to an irreversible decline in atmospheric oxygen.
- Immediate actions are necessary to promote oxygen production and reduce consumption.
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