Mass Extinction of Marine Life in Oceans During Prehistoric Times Offers Warning for Future

The burning of fuel, which increases the amount of CO2,etc, must mean a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, as well as the oceans. I have been wondering lately what effect this has had on people's ability to think rationally.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110517105812.htm

ScienceDaily (May 17, 2011) — The mass extinction of marine life in our oceans during prehistoric times is a warning that the same could happen again due to high levels of greenhouse gases, according to new research.

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Their research points to a mass mortality in the oceans at a time when Earth was going through a greenhouse effect. High levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and rising temperatures led to a severe lack of oxygen (hypoxia) in the water that marine animals depend upon.

"What's alarming to us as scientists is that there were only very slight natural changes that resulted in the onset of hypoxia in the deep ocean," said Professor Kennedy. "This occurred relatively rapidly -- in periods of hundreds of years, or possibly even less -- not gradually over longer, geological time scales, suggesting that Earth's oceans are in a much more delicate balance during greenhouse conditions than originally thought, and may respond in a more abrupt fashion to even subtle changes in temperature and CO2 levels."

Professor Kennedy said that the doubling of the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere over the past 50 years is "like hitting our ecosystem with a sledge-hammer" compared to the very small changes in incoming solar energy (radiation) which was capable of triggering these events in the past.

"This could have a catastrophic, profound impact on the sustainability of life in our oceans, which in turn is likely to impact on the sustainability of life for many land-based species, including humankind," he added.

However, the geological record offers a glimmer of hope thanks to a naturally occurring response to greenhouse conditions. After a hypoxic phase, oxygen concentration in the ocean seems to improve, and marine life returns.

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[But before it returns to "normal", there will be devastating effects on life on our planet, including humans.]

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