A reflection on the giant fern and its antithetical yet brief encounters with humanity.
Recent analysis of sediment core samples extracted from the North Pole reveals a planetary history previously unseen by humanity. At one time, about 55 million years ago, the Arctic Ocean was a warm ocean. Carbon dioxide levels were high, and the Earth was hot.
The Arctic, and the entire planet, was covered by giant ferns and plant life. The carbon dioxide levels were very good indeed for the ferns. Plant growth exploded.
Over millions of years, the ferns continued to grow, die, and accumulate in layers of peat. Layer after layer of ferns piled up and compressed, removing the carbon from the atmosphere and raising the oxygen levels until the ferns no longer thrived. The Earth cooled. The Arctic froze. The layers of ferns, now containing the planetary storehouse of carbon, became fossil fuel. The carbon was trapped in coal and oil.
The increased oxygen levels were very good indeed for humans.
A mere two hundred years ago, humans started digging up the coal and burning it to warm their homes and fuel their factories. Human growth exploded. The carbon in the coal was released into the atmosphere and the Earth began to warm rapidly.
A mere one hundred years ago, humans started pumping up the oil and burning it to warm their homes, fuel their vehicles, and grow their food. Human growth again exploded. The carbon in the oil was released into the atmosphere and the earth continued to warm.
A mere twenty years ago, humans realized the Arctic was melting. The Earth was getting very warm. The oceans were warming. The carbon had all been returned to the atmosphere.
In a mere fifty years, the Earth will once again be hot. The Arctic will be a warm ocean. The Earth will no longer be suitable to sustain humans. Mankind will pass away.
But the carbon dioxide levels will be very good indeed for the giant ferns.
Copyright 2013, Cecil X. Nixxon
