We know that two main types of processes change our planet: one involves natural cycles, such as the way the planet rotates and moves around the Sun, and the other is caused by life forms, especially humans. .
The earth itself is moving
The earth is constantly changing.
It wobbles, its tilt angle changes, and even its orbit changes to bring the Earth closer or farther from the Sun. These changes occurred over tens of thousands of years and were responsible for the ice ages.
Five hundred years is not a long time in geology.
Humans change the planet
The second major influence on the planet is living things. The effects of life on this planet are more difficult to predict. Disrupting one part of an ecosystem can derail many others.
Humans in particular are changing the Earth in a number of ways.
They clear forests and destroy wildlife habitats that are important for building cities and growing crops. They move invasive species around the planet, disrupting ecosystems.
They also contribute to global warming. People are changing the climate, primarily by burning fossil fuels which release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the planet and atmosphere can handle.
Typically, greenhouse gases trap heat from the Sun like glass in a greenhouse, keeping the Earth warmer than it should. This can be useful – until we get too much.
The result of too much carbon dioxide is rising temperatures, which can lead to dangerous summer days and melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica. Melting ice sheets lift the oceans, causing coastal areas to flood.
This is what the Earth is facing right now. These changes could lead to a very different planet in 500 years, depending in large part on the willingness of humans to change their ways. Planetary warming can also contribute to extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, storms, and droughts that can change the earth. All forms of life on Earth are in danger.
Learn from the last 500 years
Looking back over the last 500 years, the living part of the earth, called the biosphere, has changed dramatically.
The number of people has grown from about 500 million people to more than 7.5 billion today. More than 800 species of plants and animals have been lost to human activities during this period. As human populations increase, other species have less room to roam. Rising sea levels mean less land, and rising temperatures will send many species migrating to better climates.
Not all changes on Earth are caused by humans, but humans have made them worse. The main challenge today is to get people to stop doing things that cause problems, such as burning fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. It is a global problem that forces countries around the world and their peoples to work towards the same goal.
Returning to Christopher Columbus, he probably couldn’t imagine a highway full of cars or cell phones. Technology will definitely improve over the next 500 years. But so far
have not grown fast enough to cope with climate change. Doing the same thing anyway and expecting someone else to fix the problem later would be a risky and expensive bet.
So Earth in 500 years can be recognized. Or, if humans are willing to change their behavior, they can survive with their forests, oceans, fields, and vibrant cities for centuries to come, with their most prosperous inhabitants, mankind.
Warning: This article is syndicated by PTI The Conversation. Michael A Little, Binghamton University and William D MacDonald, Binghamton University. Opinions are personal.
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