From: Spike (spike66@comcast.net)
Date: Fri Jul 11 2003 - 08:40:41 MDT
> Does anyone have data on the total number of carbon
> atoms currently in
> the Earth's biomass and the rate of depletion?
>
> Depletion? Are they going somewhere?
>
> Actually the number of carbon atoms in the biomass
> would be increasing gradually as humanity burns
> the sequestered carbon, thus making it available
> for lifeforms.
Not to nitpick here spike (Moi? Never!) but the
question was about carbon in biomass, no? So the
answer would seem to depend on whether the biomass is increasing or
decreasing, no? Each growing plant or animal increases the carbon in
the earth's biomass.
Each cord of firewood burned, blade of grass or big
Mac respired decreases it... Jeff Davis
I read it that way too Jeff. My contention is that
coal and oil represent carbon that is out of the reach
of biomass. As we burn it, lifeforms now have access
to it. spike
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