Mamaroneck, NY

Green is the color of chlorophyll, a key compound in the vast majority of plants. It is synonymous with positive terms such as clean, renewable and most importantly life including our lives. Without plants there would be no photosynthesis and little to no Oxygen. This fact has just been reinforced by a recent scientific study that indicates a billion years from now the Earth’s atmosphere will contain very little Oxygen as the sun ages and consequently becomes hotter. Because of this, the Earth’s CO2 (Carbon dioxide) levels will plunge as it absorbs the increased heat and breaks down. Photosynthesizing organisms (plants) will become extinct, reducing Oxygen levels by a million times while methane levels will soar by 10,000 fold. As a result complex life, including humans will become extinct leaving the planet in its dying days to anaerobic microbial life. Worse yet, when the process begins, it will unfold quickly over a 10,000 year period bringing the Earth back to its pre Oxidation period some 2.4 billion years ago. Thus, it is more important than ever to protect address climate change and protect our intricate and interconnected ecosystems to ensure this inevitable tragedy is not hastened. And if we can establish ecological harmony, prolong the planet’s life and extend our existence, we can buy time until technological advances allow us to create artificial biospheres to generate and maintain Oxygen and CO2 levels to ensure our survival and that of every complex aerobic life form or at least persevere until the very and inevitable end. If we can avoid prematurely hastening our extinction because of irresponsible actions and policy, we will have reason to smile. Perhaps then, the scary will not be so frightening! :)

Because of this, I selected green and yellow colors to emphasize the importance of plant life, renewable clean energy, and our dependence on the Earth’s ecosystems that must be sustained for complex aerobic life like ours to continue. The pastel blues and dark purple represent clean water, also an essential ingredient for the continuity of life. The large red dot, which is intended to draw attention, represents future danger from continued unsustainable adverse climate change and the aging sun. While we cannot control the latter, we can have a positive impact on the former our planet and life do not have a premature end.

Article Link: phys.org/news/2021-03-simulations-earth-oxygen-rich-atmosphere-billion.html