Living in the anthropocene

Question 1

What does the anthropocene describe?

Answer 1

The hypothesis that we are living in a new geological era in which humans are altering the planet to such an extent that we are leaving a permanent and irreversible mark on the earth’s biological, hydrological, atmospheric and geological systems

Question 2

How much rock do humans move each year?

Answer 2

In a single year we move more rock and earth than all natural erosion combined

Question 3

What are we close to exceeding?

Answer 3

Several of the nine major planetary boundaries

Question 4

What are the 9 major planetary boundaries?

Answer 4

Climate change
Ocean acidification
Chemical pollution
Nitrogen and phosphorus loading
Freshwater withdrawals
Land conversion
Biodiversity loss
Air pollution
Ozone layer depletion

Question 5

How have we changed the appearance of the Earth?

Answer 5

Three quarters of all land outside the ice sheets owes its appearance to us

Question 6

How many people can the Earth support naturally?

Answer 6

3.5 billion but humans have adapted the environment to hold more

Question 7

How can we make cities sustainable?

Answer 7

By fostering biodiversity

Question 8

How much of the world’s population live in cities?

Answer 8

More than half

Question 9

What is a problem threatening concrete?

Answer 9

We are running out of sand for it

Question 10

Where does the sand for concrete come from?

Answer 10

Deltas and rivers- can’t use aeolian sand

Question 11

How much concrete has been produced enough?

Answer 11

All of the concrete in the world could case the entire Earth 2mm thick

Question 12

What has caused there to be a hole in the ozone layer?

Answer 12

CFCs

Question 13

Where is the ozone hole located?

Answer 13

It is over Antarctica but if it were over inhabited areas then it would cause skin cancer and other health issues

Question 14

When were greenhouse gas levels last this high?

Answer 14

Greenhouse gas concentrations have not been this high for more than 3 million years

Question 15

What is happening to global temperatures?

Answer 15

They are rising

Question 16

What is a threat to oceans?

Answer 16

Ocean acidification

Question 17

What is happening to sea levels?

Answer 17

They are rising

Question 18

What is happening to deltas and why?

Answer 18

They are sinking 4x faster than sea levels are rising due to dams

Question 19

How many of the world’s deltas are sinking?

Answer 19

Two thirds of the world’s deltas are sinking due to damming, mining and other causes

Question 20

how many people move to the city every week and for how long is this predicted to continue?

Answer 20

1million inhabitants every week until 2100

Question 21

What is an issue with growth?

Answer 21

Health, wealth and longevity increased yet more than 1 billion remain malnourished

Question 22

How many people are expected to live on the planet?

Answer 22

9 billion

Question 23

What is an issue with inequality and life expectancy?

Answer 23

There is a 20 year life expectancy gap in kensington

Question 24

In what geological epoch did life begin?

Answer 24

Phanerozoic

Question 25

What has human rights in Bangladesh and New Zealand?

Answer 25

rivers

Question 26

What are 3 issues related to water stress?

Answer 26

Rivers drying out Mining Oceans breaking heat records

Question 27

What has colonisation led to?

Answer 27

Cooling as diseases are brought over and landscapes change

Question 28

What has there been a loss of which is essential for environmental function?

Answer 28

Pollinators

Question 29

What has there been a change in the distribution of over the years?

Answer 29

Crop distribution has changed over the years

Question 30

What is a reason for the extinction of species?

Answer 30

Humans have been introducing other species

Question 31

What do 'golden spikes' mark?

Answer 31

Clear boundaries geologically

Question 32

What is meant by 'the Great Acceleration'?

Answer 32

The steep increase and potential future increase in the use of fuel

Question 33

What has there been an increase in between 1890 and 1990?

Answer 33

Nitrogen fixation

Question 34

What are the trends in terms of investment?

Answer 34

Both rich and poor follow curves in terms of investment

Question 35

What is meant by internal dynamics?

Answer 35

Plate tectonics

Question 36

What does E stand for?

Answer 36

Earth system

Question 37

What is the equation for the rate of change of the Earth System?

Answer 37

dE/dt = f (A,G,I)

Question 38

What does A stand for?

Answer 38

Astronomical forcing

Question 39

What does G stand for?

Answer 39

Geophysical forcing

Question 40

What does I stand for?

Answer 40

Internal dynamics of the Earth System

Question 41

The balance of which elements in coastal zones can affect ecosystems?

Answer 41

The nitrogen-phosphate balance in coastal zones affects ecosystems

Question 42

What is an issue with changing the landscape to produce other species?

Answer 42

Can't go back to the old environment easily

Question 43

What does H stand for?

Answer 43

Humans

Question 44

What is the anthropocene equation?

Answer 44

``` dE/dt = f(H) A,G,I= 0 ```

Question 45

What is the equation for the H dynamic of the anthropocene equation?

Answer 45

H= f(P,C,T)

Question 46

What does P stand for?

Answer 46

Population (consumers)

Question 47

What does C stand for?

Answer 47

Consumption

Question 48

What does T stand for?

Answer 48

Technosphere

Question 49

How can the technosphere value be found?

Answer 49

T = f(En, K, Pe)

Question 50

What does En stand for?

Answer 50

Energy system

Question 51

What does K stand for?

Answer 51

Knowledge

Question 52

What does Pe stand for?

Answer 52

Political economy

Question 53

What is the environmental impact equation?

Answer 53

I= P x C x T

Question 54

What does I stand for in the environmental impact equation?

Answer 54

Environmental impact

Question 55

What does P stand for in the environmental impact equation?

Answer 55

Population

Question 56

What does C stand for in the environmental impact equation?

Answer 56

Consumption per person

Question 57

What does T stand for in the environmental impact equation?

Answer 57

Impact per unit of consumption