EEB428H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter N/A: Exponential Growth, Where We Are
27 Apr 2016
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How we affect the future prospects of life on earth. Noting the rise in co2 concentrations over time, and the oscillations over the course of the year. We can follow materials flow throughout the year with other chemicals. Used this information to estimate the net primary production of the earth. Gives us a number for how much co2 can be pumped into the atmosphere. Soon realized that the exponential growth of humans will soon collide with the resources available on a finite plane. Was predicted that cfcs (chlorofluorocarbons) would destroy the atmosphere, which has since been confirmed with global satellite imaging. Estimated that humans use ~40% of the terrestrial net primary production on earth, leaving not much for the rest of the species. Early global change science gave us a broad perspective of the impact of humans on nature. Now, humans are known to be a major evolutionary force.
