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This chapter discusses the relevance of environmental effects caused by humans and the concept of sustainable development. Many of these effects take place on a global scale. Thus they are relevant for the Earth system (Steffen et al. 2005) and presently constitute a major challenge for human societies. The second section deals with the definition of systems, their balances, and their properties with...
The properties of the Earth and especially of the biogeosphere as an environment that has allowed for the development of life and human civilization are discussed in this chapter. The first section describes the position of the Earth in the solar system and the present conditions on Earth as a whole as well in its constituents, e.g. crust, ocean, and atmosphere. The second section deals with the driving...
In this Chapter the energy transformations on Earth are described. The surface temperature, which is a key variable for the climate, is on the one hand determined by the global energy balance between radiative energy coming from the Sun and radiative energy emitted back to space by the Earth (Fig. 3.1a). On the other hand, the atmosphere has a strong impact on the global energy balance as it efficiently...
This chapter discusses prominent examples of global material cycles. This is of major significance in order to understand potential perturbation of the natural material cycles caused by man’s production or use of energy. As selected examples, carbon, water, nitrogen and oxygen cycles will be treated, and in addition aspects of some other material cycles (sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine) as well as interactions...
During the Earth’s history, there have been significant variations in the global carbon cycle, caused by natural factors (e.g. changes in surface temperature due to changes in solar irradiation). Given these natural changes, variations due to human activities and their causes are difficult to identify.
As human activities in recent (industrial) times cause large flows of materials and energy with significant impact on the environment, public discussion was stimulated in the 1970s and 1980s by publications about potential limits (e.g. by Meadows et al. 1972 or Barney 1981). The following discussion introduces four factors representing limits in different respects. Intriguing is the question, which...
This chapter discusses different aspects of future global development, as a consequence of the flow analyses presented earlier. Criteria for future development are presented, as well as technology and general policy strategies. The effect of individual life styles or living conditions on per-capita energy demand and emissions is demonstrated with some selected examples. Scenarios for future global...
The Earth is a complex system and a complete understanding of the interaction of all processes taking place has not yet been achieved. However, we believe that a number of fundamental constraints, limitations and guidelines for future development can be derived from the process engineering approach presented in this book. As a result, the following conclusions are based on the view that humans should...
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