The study, ‘Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries’, by a group of scientists has found that out of the 9 planetary boundaries, humans have breached 6.
Planetary boundaries |
Control variables |
Biosphere integrity |
|
Climate change |
|
Novel entities |
Levels of plastic, concrete, synthetic chemicals, gene-modified organisms, etc. that would not be found on Earth if we humans were not here. |
Stratospheric ozone depletion |
The anthropogenic release of manufactured chemicals that destroy ozone molecules |
Freshwater change |
Human-induced impact on
|
Atmospheric aerosol loading |
Tracking various particles from anthropogenic emissions that affect
|
Ocean acidification |
Reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time |
Land system change |
Changes in land use, especially the conversion of tropical forests to farmland |
Biogeochemical flow |
Alteration in the natural flows and the forms of nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, which are essential elements for plant growth |
Holocene period started with the end of the last ice age and the start of the Industrial Revolution. It is characterised by relatively stable and warm planetary conditions.
Stratospheric ozone depletion boundary is one of the improving and recovering boundary, owing to the combined international efforts initiated by the Montreal Protocol in 1987.
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