Biosphere: ‘… the place on earth’sBiosphere: ‘… the place on earth’s surface where life...

Biosphere: ‘… the place on earth’s surface where life dwells.’

Geologist Eduard Suess, 1875.

A spherical shell at the Earth’s surface that includes land, water and the atmosphere. This is where virtually all life exists.

Biosphere: ‘… the place on earth’s surface where life dwells.’

Geologist Eduard Suess, 1875.

A spherical shell at the Earth’s surface that includes land, water and the atmosphere. This is where virtually all life exists.

2SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

OxygenWaterFoodClothing and shelterCommunication – we are born to

learn through communication!

OxygenWaterFoodClothing and shelterCommunication – we are born to

learn through communication!

3SPACESHIP EARTH part 1

ENERGY: Our spaceship has an energy budget that depends upon the sun. The supply is not unlimited but it is very large.

WATER: Our spaceship has a limited amount of water that is in continuous circulation.

ENERGY: Our spaceship has an energy budget that depends upon the sun. The supply is not unlimited but it is very large.

WATER: Our spaceship has a limited amount of water that is in continuous circulation.

4SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

5SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

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7

8SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

Atmosphere 0.013

Oceans: 1370

Ice caps: 29Groundwater: 9.5

Lakes: 0.125Rivers: 0.125

0.43 0.40

STORAGE: 106 km3

FLOW: 106 km3/year

How many passengers now? In 2040?

Where are they located? Are they well-behaved? Passenger satisfaction in the

‘good old days’ What’s next for the Biosphere?

How many passengers now? In 2040?

Where are they located? Are they well-behaved? Passenger satisfaction in the

‘good old days’ What’s next for the Biosphere?

9SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

10SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

CONTINENT 2010 (Bn) 2050 (Bn)

Africa 1.03 (15%) 2.00 (22%)

Asia 4.17 (60%) 5.23 (57%)

Europe 0.73 (11%) 0.69 (8%)

Latin America

0.59 (9%) 0.73 (8%)

N America 0.35 (5%) 0.45 (5%)

Oceania 0.04 (1%) 0.05 (1%)

WORLD 6.91 (100%) 9.15 (100%)

11SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

12SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

13SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

Year Urban_pop (M)

Frac of total

World_pop (B)

1900 220 13 % 1.7

1950 732 29 % 2.5

2005 3,200 49 % 6.5

2010 3,400 50+ % 6.7

2050 (est) 6,000+ 67 % 9.0 (est)

Urbanization pressure is intense, because the total population is growing and a larger fraction of people want to live in cities.

14SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

1. Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan 33,200,0002. New York, United States 17,800,0003. Sao Paulo, Brazil 17,700,0004. Seoul-Incheon, S.Korea 17,500,0005. Mexico City, Mexico 17,400,0006. Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto,Japan 16,425,0007. Manila, Philippines 14,750,0008. Mumbai, India 14,350,0009. Jakarta, Indonesia 14,250,000

10. Lagos, Nigeria 13,400,000

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1. Shanghai, China 24,153,0002. Beijing, China 18,590,0003. Karachi, Pakistan 18,000,0004. Istanbul, Turkey 14,657,0005. Dhaka, Bangladesh 14,543,0006. Tokyo, Japan 13,617,0007. Moscow, Russia 13,197,5968. Manila, Philippines 14,350,0009. Tianjin, China 12,877,000

10. Mumbai (Bomby), India 12,400,000

16SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

1. Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan 37,300,0002. Mumbai, India 26,000,0003. Delhi,India 25,800,0004. Dhaka,Bangladesh 22,000,0005. Mexico City, Mexico 21,800,0006. Sao Paolo, Brazil 21,600,0007. Lagos,Nigeria 21,500,0008. Jakarta,Indonesia 20,800,0009. New York,US 20,400,000

10. Karachi,Pakistan 18,900,000

17SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

18SPACESHIP EARTH part 2

Trees to desert in Zambia

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An ocean of plastic

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Smog in the city of the angels

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No-one has yet found the manual for operating the

spaceship on behalf of all creatures.

No-one has yet found the manual for operating the

spaceship on behalf of all creatures.

22SPACESHIP EARTH part 1

The biosphere is a thin shell …providing all basic human life-

support needs.Annual cycles – energy, water –

play critical roles.We live in urban environments

in increasing numbers.

The biosphere is a thin shell …providing all basic human life-

support needs.Annual cycles – energy, water –

play critical roles.We live in urban environments

in increasing numbers.

23SPACESHIP EARTH part 2