Even as the world transitions from fossil fuel to green energy, the dreaded future looms ever closer thanks to the continuous carbon emissions over a substantial period.
The newest study indicates that these threats are very real and endanger our very existence. An Applied Mathematics professor at the University of Leicester, Sergei Petrovskii has stated that the global temperature rise can ultimately lead to the reduction in the amount of the breathable oxygen.
Petrovskii published his findings in the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. The study observed phytoplankton, the marine plants that produce two-third of the world’s atmospheric oxygen, in the oceans.
Petrovskii studied the photosynthesizing ability of these aquatic plants at varying temperatures. From his findings, Petrovskii learned that at a certain temperature, these marine plants would simply stop generating oxygen.
An Even more frightening aspect of the study is that this calamity will arrive without much notice, if any. If the global warming is not regulated and the carbon emissions go unchecked, then we could reach this extreme by 2100. This deadly deadline leaves us with only 84 years before the life as we know on Earth, would come to an end.
The most significant finding of this study is that this catastrophe will be unavoidable if the world’s oceans warm by 6 degrees Celsius.
The scientists have already warned the world the impact of the climate change could only be reduced if the global temperatures are checked to rise no more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The same temperature was set as an international climate goal at the Paris climate accord.
The research indicates that to stay below the 2°C limit, it is necessary to cut the global emissions drastically.
The current talks and global efforts may save us from gasping for air, yet we will have to face the worst impact of the global climate change. Our decisions for today will decide the fate of life on Earth.