18 human impacts 2 planetary boundaries

planetary boundary

limits between which global systems must operate to prevent abrupt and irreversible environemtnal change

core boundary

crossing this planetary boundary would drive the earth into a new and unpredictable state with severe consequences for the biopshere

(climate change and biosphere intregrity is most important as it affects other planetary boundary

what are the crossed planetary boundaries

• climate change: deforestation, burning ff, industrial activity, greater global temps and co2

• biosphere integrity: caused by habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species

• land-system change: caused by deforestation and corrosion of natural habitats into farmland and carbon areas

• biogeochemical flows: excessive use of fertilisers in agriculture resulting in eutrophication and disrupts ecosystems

• novel entitles (chem pollution) : release of plastics pesticides and other synthetic substances into the environment

• freshwater used: over extraction of rivers lakes and grasslands for agriculture, industry and human consumption

crossing imminent in planetary boundary

• ocean acidification: increased carbon dioxide dissolved into oceans forming carbonic acid, lowers ph threatening marine organisms

• atmospheric aerosol! caused by omission from industry transport and ff, increasing particulate matter in atmosphere

planetary boundary that is crossing averted

• ozone depletion: int. agreements and ozone gradually recovers