Why don't we die in winter?
By smacksman
@smacksman (6053)
April 19, 2012 11:16am CST
Plants/trees/shrubs use the chemical process called Photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
The overall equation for the type of photosynthesis that occurs in plants is:-
6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) add day light = C6H12O6 (sugar) + 6O2 (oxygen)
{source - Wikipedia}
Where a large part of the worlds population live, the plants/trees are deciduous - the leaves drop off late autumn and don't grow back again till early summer. For other parts of the world the leaves drop off in the dry season and grow again in the wet season. In the UK the leaves drop in November and grow back in April/May.
So why don't we die from a lack of oxygen and an excess of carbon monoxide during those six months?
Doesn't this massive change in CO2 / O2 balance each year make man's efforts to change the balance, pall into insignicance?
4 responses
@ethansmom0129 (136)
• United States
19 Apr 12
A large amount of photsynthesis comes from algae in the oceans and the Taiga forest around the north pole. You also have to remember when it's winter for you, it's summer for the other half of the world. So, not everybody on Earth goes through winter/summer at the same time. However, most land-based photosynthesis is in the northern hemisphere and this results in a seasonal variation in the total CO2 in the atmosphere. Obviously, the CO2 change is much larger, and so should be, but not all plants completely stop producing oxygen during winter. Some plants, just slow the production of oxygen to conserve energy during lower temperatures. So, to answer your question of why don't we die, because there is never a total lack of oxygen in the air. In the air there, typically there is 20% oxygen, so that's what we inhale, and we exhale 16% of this oxygen, therefore we are only using a small portion of the oxygen that is in the air. Which is why we are able to survive. Hope this helps.
@smacksman (6053)
•
19 Apr 12
True. Interesting though that only half the temperate land mass is operating at full strength photosynthesis for half a year.
It is just as well then that 70% plus of the surface is oceans and can carry on with photosynthesis.
It makes you wonder though what is the point in spending hundreds of millions to bury CO2 from a power station. The effect on the whole balance must be tiny.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
19 Apr 12
That is one of the must succinct and accurate explanations I have seen in a while, ethansmom.
I think, smacksman, that the importance of trying to limit our production of CO2 lies not so much in the amount we produce or in any imminent danger of suffocating ourselves as in the danger of upsetting the balance, which is quite delicate. I believe that there is evidence that once CO2 levels reach a certain point (and especially when other gases in the atmosphere are taken into account), there is likely to be a 'runaway' effect which will drastically change the global climate.
It may be PARTLY true that the current climate changes are (and always were) unavoidable but there is certainly very strong evidence that CO2 levels have increased dramatically since we began to burn fossil fuels on a large scale and therefore that we are partially responsible, at least.
I'm not sure about "spending hundreds of millions to bury CO2 from a power station". I don't think that we bury CO2 and planting trees to compensate is, in any case, cheaper and probably more effective. I am concerned, however, that we are having to bury nuclear waste from so-called "clean" power stations. Decommissioning was, I am sure, not fully built in to the price we were supposed to be paying for electricity, at least at the beginning of the 'nuclear age'.
@smacksman (6053)
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19 Apr 12
I've always wondered at the wisdom of trying to return a closed nuclear power station back to 'green field' status and transporting contaminated material for miles. I mean, it is contaminated for 1000 years. We all new that before it was built. So why don't we just leave it as contaminated ground - move next door and build another one and monitor the old site. Use the same sea water for cooling and power lines for transmission and the same experienced local staff to run it. In 50 years time - repeat.
@Kojigirl (188)
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21 Apr 12
You're not really good on this logic thing, are you? When it is winter here in the north, it is summer in the south. And the reverse is true, also. So the world always has loads of plants giving off oxygen, the seas and oceans create massive explosions of the stuff and have done for millions of years. Or do you live in a different universe where the entire planet closes down for a few months of the year, and are just visiting our humble blue rock?
@smacksman (6053)
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22 Apr 12
So if we can live ok with reduced absorbtion of CO2 and production of oxygen for half the year why are we spending massive amounts to reduce carbon emissions when we obviously have no impact on the big picture.
Maybe it is because the political tree huggers have as much ability to see the true picture in a question as you do.
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
7 Jun 12
Hello my friend smacksman Ji,
I think there may be a hidden and unknown facts which are responsible for our life to remain during such time. It requires great and deep study on the matter. A person like me, will agree that Creator wants me remain alive so we are alive.
May God bless You and have a great 
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
19 Apr 12
We do die in winter.. our own winter.. to some it's old to some it's young.. it's the same with plants and trees.. some survive others just live for one year.
