Effects of Human Activity on the Earth

In this section (chapters 2-4) of J.R. McNeill’s Something New Under the Sun he extensively utilizes scientifically and mathematically derived statistics to explain the overall negative changes in Earth’s lithosphere (Earth’s outer rock shell), pedosphere (soil), atmosphere and stratosphere. McNeill contends that these transformations could not have occurred with the same magnitude lacking human interaction. The ever changing face of Earth has been dependent upon volcanic activities, earthquakes, glacial melting and …

…reveals how these changes of the Earth could possibly be justified. He points out that the great success of humanity as a population could not have occurred without the underlying forces which caused the planet’s problems. For instance, fertilization of soils enabled the world’s population to have sufficient food supplies. It is necessary to realize how humanity has changed the planet and even more important to recognize how this happened and prevent it.