CAS GE 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Anthropocene, Moai, Externality
21 Apr 2016
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Anthropocene- new distinct epoch in our earth"s 4. 5 billion year history, humans are now the dominant determinant in shaping the climate and material flow as opposed to natural disasters: agriculture. The use of fertilizers has doubled the levels of nitrogen and. Production of these fertilizers release methane: metals. The amount of aluminum on earth has doubled: plastic. The amount produced each year weighs as much as all of the humans on earth. Ends up in landfills and waterways and are damaging ocean habitats: construction. More than half of the earth"s surfaces are now covered by human constructs: buildings, farms, dams, etc. Effects erosion: extinction rates, sea level, and mean global temperatures now rising faster than any point in history. : theory 1: population growth- population grew exponentially over 1200 years, intentional deforestation ad/or invasive species- people cut down trees to make canoes and shelter. Once there was a food shortage, there was more violent conflicts that resulted.
