John Arfstrom

Ocean Acidification and the Apocalypse John Arfstrom

Follow the pursuits of John, whose greatest ambition is world conquest, through a scenario of the future of humanity and Earth in the wake of a newly understood phenomenon known as ocean acidification. Besides causing global warming, carbon dioxide increased the acidity of the oceans, which eventually caused oxygen-producing calcareous single-celled phytoplankton to die by reducing their ability to secrete calcium-based structures. Because the oceans produce more than half of the world's oxygen, the atmospheric oxygen concentration began to fall, and all life on Earth was stressed. The oxygen concentration of the atmosphere is currently at 21%. People pass out at 16% and die at 12%. An ancient mass extinction known as the "Great Dying" that resulted in the disappearance of 95% of all species was being repeated. Leading up to the event, plant and animal life became less productive by some 50% due to the decreasing oxygen concentration in the atmosphere, resulting in worldwide famine.

The societal instability caused by the famine presented a unique opportunity for John to influence world events greatly. Under the guise of an environmental savior who truly has the means to save the Earth, John endeavors to instigate World War III through ingenious and sometimes ruthless acts of subterfuge. In one of his more underhanded dealings, he conceals his motives and manipulates the Pope with offerings and advice. Although purely scientific and not religious, John cares not if religion dominates man. For him, the end justifies the means and world conquest matters more than world ideologies. Through careful and sometimes ruthless "string-pulling", John attempts to orchestrate The Last Crusade and World War III, which would be the final culmination of European expansion under the banner of a new Christian Empire that would not know limits on Earth.

Author notes:

The story is intended to increase public awareness of ocean acidification and casts light on an apocalyptic setting rooted in declining atmospheric oxygen, which is under-represented in the genre. Although it is not currently known what the full-scale effects the increasing acidity will have on phytoplankton, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that there will be a general decline of these organisms. Some preliminary research has been conducted on these effects, but much more is required to have any real idea of just what will happen in the coming decades. The same may be said about the effects of low oxygen on plant productivity. I also wanted to work in elements of science fiction that might inspire invention and give people hope that humanity has the power to save the world. I present some ideas concerning ocean acidification remediation primarily in two chapters that are heavy on science fiction and that do not easily lend themselves to character involvement. I do not concentrate on efforts to reduce carbon emissions, but rather focus on the genetic engineering of algae to increase oxygen output and support the food web of the oceans. Some ideas concerning the use of algae to produce oxygen have been discussed in the emerging fields of geoengineering. I also wish to present the ideas for constructing habitats and underground facilities to save from extinction whatever animals could be maintained through many decades. These ideas are worked more seamlessly into the story because they are more centered around engineering projects that the characters visit.

John Arfstrom has published scientific research on the subject of glaciers on Mars in the journal Icarus. His ongoing research may be viewed at ResearchGate and johnarfstrom.com. His first novella, entitled "The Destiny of Wysan", concerns the San Bushmen and the invention of the bow and arrow. His second novella, entitled "Ocean Acidification and the Apocalypse", is a scenario of the near future. His interest in the subject of ocean acidification is outlined at ocean-acidification.info.