The fires in the Amazon rainforest are currently a major issue and are causing concern for populations around the world. Finally, they influence future oxygen production. Or maybe not? The Amazon is regularly referred to as “the lungs of the world.” It is said to account for more than 20% of global oxygen production. But as Professor Scott Denning now explains, that doesn't seem to be true at all. It is a false statistic that is spread in the news, social media and even about politicians like French President Emmanuel Macron, among others. To illustrate the truth, the professor in atmospheric sciences explains on the site “The Conversation” how the natural production of oxygen works. And as it turns out, plants on Earth are far from the only and most important source of fresh oxygen in the air.
The Amazon rainforest has not only been a problem since the fires of the last few weeks. Already in 2004, 80% of the rainforest had been destroyed. This is disturbing and even alarming in many ways. However, this does not have a major impact on the oxygen in the air. What is much more worrying is that the habitat of many plant species and creatures that can only be found in this forest is being threatened and destroyed. These, in turn, contain significant reserves of carbon and other organic matter, the decline of which would trigger a climate crisis.
Where does the oxygen in the air come from?
In principle, almost all of the oxygen in the air that we need to breathe comes from the oceans. Oxygen is also available in such large quantities that we could live on it for several million years. Scott Denning explains: “Many elements, including oxygen, are continually exchanged between land, ocean and atmospheric ecosystems in ways that can be measured and quantified.”
Oxygen in the air from the forests on land
Almost all of the oxygen in the air is produced by plant photosynthesis, a third of the photosynthesis on land is produced in the rainforests and the majority of it in the Amazon basin. “So the claims are true after all,” you might be thinking. However, you should know that the oxygen in the air that is created every year due to photosynthesis on land cannot be used by us humans. Instead, it is consumed by living organisms and fires. This refers to insects, bacteria and other organisms that form their own ecosystem and feed on falling leaves, twigs, roots and other waste. Of course, they also use oxygen. So although plenty of oxygen is produced in the forest, a lot is also consumed; there is far too little excess oxygen left. In the end, the net oxygen content from forests on land is approximately zero.
Oxygen from the oceans
Oxygen in the oceans and seas produce tiny amountsAlgae, as well as plants. But the same procedure takes place there as on land: microorganisms decompose the waste from the plants and use up the oxygen produced. For this reason, this process must be interrupted so that an excess of oxygen can occur. This happens when the algae waste reaches the seabed, where it is not broken down by organisms but buried. Not only does this produce oil and gas, but the oxygen produced by the algae before they die can enter the atmosphere because it is not consumed by microorganisms.
The oxygen that is produced directly on the water surface by algae can also escape into the atmosphere and oxygen is accumulated in the air. Since these processes have been taking place and repeating themselves over and over again for millions of years, there is already a huge supply in the atmosphere that living beings on Earth can use for an extremely long time.
The fact that oxygen reaches the earth's surface from the atmosphere is thanks to various chemical reactions between metals, sulfur and other elements. For example, the reaction of iron and oxygen in a moist environment, called oxidation, which is known to form rust, equalizes the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Conclusion
This suggests that we are not at all dependent on the oxygen in the air produced by forests. Even if these disappeared suddenly and all at once, only about 1% of the world's oxygen would disappear with them. But of course that doesn't mean that the fires and deforestation aren't still worrying. Because this endangers many types ofanimals and plantsand destroys entire ecosystems. The animals in the Amazon are just one example, because other forests are also being cleared and the animals in them, like the Amazon animals, are chased away or even killed. And that is reason enough to fight against it.
