Welcome to Natural Wonders, where we celebrate the weirdness and beauty of nature! I apologize for being a week late with this issue - family health issues that are, thankfully, all better now. During this holiday season, which is both joyful and hectic, be sure to take some time for yourself by getting outside to enjoy the
What a fabulous question you've unearthed here - and answered so well. This in particular made me blink:
>>"at least 50% of the oxygen we breathe (some say up to 80%) actually comes from the ocean!"
SAY WHAT? I had no idea about this thing. And I've been half-pondering doing a season of my newsletter about the air/atmosphere, and this is making me want to do it ten times more than before. YOU TROUBLEMAKER, YOU.
And referencing Barbara's good point in her comment: yes, it's about tree-planting AND protecting the carbon-rich old woodland that currently exists. Lots of reputable bodies saying this (eg. https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-many-new-trees-would-we-need-offset-our-carbon-emissions) That's the great challenge here, to do both alongside each other, really really well.
(And I'd love it if it happened because somehow the profit motive got detached from environmental concerns, where ecology-preserving stuff doesn't happen because it won't turn enough of a direct profit. That's far too narrow a way of thinking for the challenges facing the world right now. There's got to be a better, bigger way of reframing it all for capitalists.)
I have always understood we relied on trees (and plants?) for our oxygen but was never exactly sure how this came about and now I do, thank you. Which raises my next issue. Construction is constant everywhere these days and very much so in my immediate area currently and I see acres of trees turned into nothing. So, at what point are we going to be gasping for air because the world feels we need to keep building and building and building and clearing more land for more building? Seldom do we see trees replanted to replace even part of what was bulldozed and burned.
This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I am now a bit embarrassed I never thought of the question, especially since I work with MODIS data... ugh.
Great question, loved your interesting take! Down here in the tropics it feels like there is more oxygen in the winter because it is a rainy season, everything is much greener!
You have surely missed my outstanding Subtract!
Friendly regards from Nicaragua, heavily sanctioned, where I scrape by at the Gates of Hell, the Masaya Volcano, at the very bleeding heart of Central America. Hell, sweet hell, err, home. I meant home, sweet hell!
Esteemed Substacker, If you read my first two posts, you will find out about how dramatic and humble my landing here actually was. Then I started to write and post like a madman like there was no tomorrow because my real life situation seemed that way, and things have not calmed down, have not changed yet! Not only because life, in general and particular, is not a word, but a sentence, but because sometimes serving this sentence makes one feel like dropping dead any minute, I have decided to chime in with something transcendentally relevant. Enjoy it to the very last breath as I do, a soldier of Christ, fighting in the first row, breathing heavily, no matter cannon fodder you do not have to pledge anything, my efforts are always free.
Left to my own devices and salivating in the tropical scorcher, in the erupting drought season, the promised $20 bill of rights rain has not even started yet for me here on Subtract, yes, I just want to make you laugh, not cry, as I wipe a tear or two. It seems like nobody´s gold pennies can reach my flying BullShip skyhigh. Yet I stay working Job, patience is my virtue upon the rack, tried, drawn, and quartered as vice driven through the rusty nails of my faith .... until I, one-armed, cannot carry my heavy cross anymore. I keep saying this only to myself as a wounded gladiator in the public arena. Hope you all still having fun ....
Substack is my new home, like I was sort of homeless. And yes, it does get lonely in the jungle if you live alone. Substack to me now means the world, the greatest platform where I can share my massive varied writing stuff. I have quite a few posts already here with 69, whoops, subscribers and growing every day as people are finally noticing my stranded S.O.S. sign on the beach! Thank God, thanks to you good people. Thank you for noticing me, for hearing me out, for supporting me! I am truly humbled. Do not let my monumental or trivial issues grind you down! God bless you all!
PS: Please excuse my typos, grammar, etc. because I am not perfect, I am just human. I use a looking glass and my second rate English is my third yet my most beloved language.
What a fabulous question you've unearthed here - and answered so well. This in particular made me blink:
>>"at least 50% of the oxygen we breathe (some say up to 80%) actually comes from the ocean!"
SAY WHAT? I had no idea about this thing. And I've been half-pondering doing a season of my newsletter about the air/atmosphere, and this is making me want to do it ten times more than before. YOU TROUBLEMAKER, YOU.
And referencing Barbara's good point in her comment: yes, it's about tree-planting AND protecting the carbon-rich old woodland that currently exists. Lots of reputable bodies saying this (eg. https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-many-new-trees-would-we-need-offset-our-carbon-emissions) That's the great challenge here, to do both alongside each other, really really well.
(And I'd love it if it happened because somehow the profit motive got detached from environmental concerns, where ecology-preserving stuff doesn't happen because it won't turn enough of a direct profit. That's far too narrow a way of thinking for the challenges facing the world right now. There's got to be a better, bigger way of reframing it all for capitalists.)
Love this! I had no idea. Really enjoying your newsletter and how much I learn from it.
I have always understood we relied on trees (and plants?) for our oxygen but was never exactly sure how this came about and now I do, thank you. Which raises my next issue. Construction is constant everywhere these days and very much so in my immediate area currently and I see acres of trees turned into nothing. So, at what point are we going to be gasping for air because the world feels we need to keep building and building and building and clearing more land for more building? Seldom do we see trees replanted to replace even part of what was bulldozed and burned.
This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I am now a bit embarrassed I never thought of the question, especially since I work with MODIS data... ugh.
Wow, that is fascinating and something I'd never thought to wonder about. Thanks for linking to my articles too.
Lovely post that is chock full of insight and information
I love this!!
Great question, loved your interesting take! Down here in the tropics it feels like there is more oxygen in the winter because it is a rainy season, everything is much greener!
You have surely missed my outstanding Subtract!
Friendly regards from Nicaragua, heavily sanctioned, where I scrape by at the Gates of Hell, the Masaya Volcano, at the very bleeding heart of Central America. Hell, sweet hell, err, home. I meant home, sweet hell!
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/at-the-gates-of-hell
Esteemed Substacker, If you read my first two posts, you will find out about how dramatic and humble my landing here actually was. Then I started to write and post like a madman like there was no tomorrow because my real life situation seemed that way, and things have not calmed down, have not changed yet! Not only because life, in general and particular, is not a word, but a sentence, but because sometimes serving this sentence makes one feel like dropping dead any minute, I have decided to chime in with something transcendentally relevant. Enjoy it to the very last breath as I do, a soldier of Christ, fighting in the first row, breathing heavily, no matter cannon fodder you do not have to pledge anything, my efforts are always free.
Left to my own devices and salivating in the tropical scorcher, in the erupting drought season, the promised $20 bill of rights rain has not even started yet for me here on Subtract, yes, I just want to make you laugh, not cry, as I wipe a tear or two. It seems like nobody´s gold pennies can reach my flying BullShip skyhigh. Yet I stay working Job, patience is my virtue upon the rack, tried, drawn, and quartered as vice driven through the rusty nails of my faith .... until I, one-armed, cannot carry my heavy cross anymore. I keep saying this only to myself as a wounded gladiator in the public arena. Hope you all still having fun ....
Substack is my new home, like I was sort of homeless. And yes, it does get lonely in the jungle if you live alone. Substack to me now means the world, the greatest platform where I can share my massive varied writing stuff. I have quite a few posts already here with 69, whoops, subscribers and growing every day as people are finally noticing my stranded S.O.S. sign on the beach! Thank God, thanks to you good people. Thank you for noticing me, for hearing me out, for supporting me! I am truly humbled. Do not let my monumental or trivial issues grind you down! God bless you all!
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/rome-never-fell-the-empire-never
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/oh-zero-i-just-cant-quit-you
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/frost-reloaded
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/lady-gaga-and-czechwizard-at-it
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/the-lords-prayer-there-is-more
PS: Please excuse my typos, grammar, etc. because I am not perfect, I am just human. I use a looking glass and my second rate English is my third yet my most beloved language.