Estimating the interconversion between CO2 and organic matter in the environment using mathematical models and some considerations

Abstract

The aims in this work were to use mathematical models to analyze the interconversion between the amount of organic matter produced and the consequent variation in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and to discuss, supported by the data presented and the literature, possible changes in the Earth's environment. Scientific findings and evidence indicate that the concentrations of CO2 and O2 varied throughout the existence of the Earth. These variations were a consequence of the existing environment in different ages, resulting in changes in all other processes that depended on these gases. Chemical reactions occurred and organic products such as petroleum arose abioti­ cally. These products gave origin to organic chemistry and drastically reduced the concentration of CO2 and elevated O2 in the atmosphere. In the current plants, for each O2 produced in the photoche­ mical step of photosynthesis, one CO2 is assimilated in the biochemical step. Supported by this relati­ onship and by the results presented in this work, it can be inferred that the first photosynthetic organisms originated on Earth when the concentration of CO2 was possibly at a concentration below 1000 ppm, the biochemistry activity started with these organisms. The results suggest that the re­ duction in CO2 concentration was linear in relation to the age of the Earth, before the origin of pho­ tosynthetic organisms. This relationship changed with origin of these organisms, due to the major changes that occurred in the environment. There is evidence that in certain periods, CO2 concentrati­ ons have been reduced below the CO2 compensation point for certain plants resulting in the extinction of these plants and the organisms that depended on them.