Scott Stoll logo world traveler. A bicycle wheel and the globe symbolizes Scott's journey around the world on a bicycle.

Global Oxygen Depletion​

Oxygen crisis logo. The Earth as a big O2 molecule.

Are humans consuming oxygen faster than it can be replaced?

We are all aware of our reliance on fossil fuels and their byproducts of greenhouse gases and poisons, like carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). But have you ever wondered about the other half of the equation? Where does the oxygen come from that is used to burn the fuel? Where does the oxygen go? And, is it possible to run out of air to breathe?

I recommend reading Introduction to global oxygen depletion, then you can dig deep into the issues below.

By the way, this has been a hobby of mine for a long time. I got tired of sucking exhaust while riding a bike, and it got me thinking. I put over a decade of research (thousands of hours) into this series.

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Underwater bubble ring of oxygen

Introduction to global oxygen depletion

As mankind burns more and more fuel, we are also burning more and more oxygen. Simultaneously, the Earth's ecosystem is being destroyed. At what point does the Earth reach a tipping point? And, how long before we run out of air to breathe?
A man wearing a gas mask watches television in a smoggy dystopian world.

How long before the Earth runs out of oxygen?

Have you ever wondered how much breathable air is on Earth, and if we'll ever run out? Our atmosphere is paper-thin relative to a basketball, and we use its oxygen to power internal combustion engines, create electricity, and manufacture products (cement, chemicals, plastic). Worse, we are destroying the plants that make more breathable oxygen.

More articles about global oxygen depletion

The articles above give you the basics about oxygen depletion. The articles below dive deeper into the individual issues of where our oxygen comes from and where it goes. 

A leaf of basil back lit by the sun and full of colorful sparkles.

How to measure atmospheric oxygen depletion

This article is more for scientists and field researchers. A practical step forward in determining global oxygen depletion rates. A conclusion to decades of research.
How much oxygen does a tree produce?

How much oxygen do plants produce?

I calculate how much oxygen a tree breathes and how much excess oxygen a tree produces in three different ways. Spoiler alert: It's not a lot.
The song of global oxygen depletion. Art by @Stevenmarkperry.

10 reasons why global oxygen measurements may be wrong

Ten reasons why we might be measuring oxygen in the atmosphere wrong. And how global oxygen depletion may be a hidden driver of climate change.
A dramatic picture of water droplets (clouds). A metaphor for the mass of oxygen on Earth.

How much oxygen is in the atmosphere?

I demonstrate how to calculate the mass of oxygen in the atmosphere. And I talk about ten reasons why the accepted values may be wrong.
Natural gas stove burning blue.

How much oxygen is consumed by fossil fuels per year?

What if the driver of climate change is NOT carbon dioxide but oxygen depletion? See the math to compare CO2 emissions to oxygen burned.
Global Oxygen Cycle sources and sinks. Illustration of oxygen being exchanged between land, sea, air and space, plus mankind's industry..

How much oxygen is consumed by the Earth per year by natural causes?

There are many ways oxygen is burned/consumed/oxidized. It is a very reactive element. We highlight the major natural causes, like: respiration, decomposition, forest fires, rust and more.
The world population growth chart of homo infographic sapiens infographic. At the rate we are going the line will be off the chart in a few decades.

Human Population Growth Chart

This graph illustrates the exponential growth of the human race and the consumption of non-renewable resources. The question isn't if the population will stop growing/consuming, but when?
An illustration of oxygen molecules (O2) and fossil fuel (C) going into the engine of a car, and molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) coming out the exhaust pipe.

How much oxygen does a car burn?

We are all aware of our reliance on fossil fuels and their byproduct of greenhouse gases and poisons. But have you ever wondered about the oxygen needed to burn the fuel?

Coming Fall 2023

Breathless: The Oxygen Apocalypse

If you enjoy science fiction, you’ll enjoy this story about what might happen in a worst-case scenario if the world runs out of oxygen in a cataclysmic event. To be clear, the blogs above are based on facts and science; however, this book is a work of fiction based on years of research. 

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More info
Breathless the Oxygen Apocalypse. Book cover. An image of a man living inside a giant jar with the last tree on Earth. Outside is a dead world that has run out of oxygen.

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