The Anthropocene: Hard evidence for a human-driven Earth

Lord of Planar said:

I'm more concerned about population growth.

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Well, they tie hand in hand. I think we will see population declines in many countries this century though, that trend is already happening in America. I myself have no plan on having any children, and I have many friends who say the same or only want to have one child.

iguanaman said:

But still if we flame out a million years will erase most all of the evidence of our existence. We still maybe a "flash in the pan".

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That depends on what we leave behind and the condition of our "flame out."

Assume there is truth to the idea that the history of the planet is pretty much written into the layers of the Earth. So we distinguish what happened over a very long time based on changes in rocks, metals, climate imprints, other elements, fossils, etc. You could argue then that real distinctions between periods can be exacerbated by mass extinctions and/or sharp changes in climate (that is not a reference to global climate change... I am talking about a massive asteroid hit, or fast change to ice age, etc.)

What we are really talking about then is something we do to ourselves outside of those natural disaster events. Like, WWIII. In nuclear fought terms that would definitely qualify as the impact to the planet would be recorded in an extreme way changing rock, metals in the ground, atmospheric imprints, all sorts of record ready impacts to how we look at these distinctions.

Not convinced humanity will go the slow flame out route to our extinction, I am convinced we will do it to ourselves. And as usual history proven, the planet will take a new direction without us. It has started over before, no real reason to assume it would not do so again.

akrunner88 said:

Well, they tie hand in hand. I think we will see population declines in many countries this century though, that trend is already happening in America..

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Why do you many people in America are more concerned about population growth? An American might easily consume five or ten times as much as someone in Africa, but it's them that keep breeding who are making an unsustainable future for us!

Mithrae said:

Why do you many people in America are more concerned about population growth? An American might easily consume five or ten times as much as someone in Africa, but it's them that keep breeding who are making an unsustainable future for us!

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Assuming your post is tongue in cheek and if so I agree with ya.

We should be concerned for a variety of reasons all having to do with the natural resources available in ratio to the population available to exploit them. We have too much population, not enough resources, and that is a recipe for a reduction in the middle class.

That and competition for housing means a greater number of Americans are spending a bigger ratio of their paychecks just to put a roof over their heads. That issue could be solved by creating taller, more efficient cities but that requires a level of urban planning not seen in America since our conception since we're all about bigger houses, nicer cars, etc. California is a perfect example of what happens when you have limited land to build on and a huge population influx. Same with the oil boom towns where most land is private land and can't be built upon to create new housing and apartments. Ridiculous that I had to pay $1,300 for a one bedroom apartment in Bismarck, ND when I could get an apartment in Chicago for much cheaper.

Lord of Planar said:

I'm more concerned about population growth.

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I'm more concerned that the Patriots might win another Super Bowl.

I HATE those guys!

akrunner88 said:

Well, they tie hand in hand. I think we will see population declines in many countries this century though, that trend is already happening in America. I myself have no plan on having any children, and I have many friends who say the same or only want to have one child.

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That is an interesting sociological upcoming state of affairs.

I have heard that first borns and middle children and youngest all share share particular qualities to varying degrees.

If we become a nation of first born-only childs, how will that affect our national identity?

Only rhetorical. Just musing...

code1211 said:

I'm more concerned that the Patriots might win another Super Bowl.

I HATE those guys!

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LOL...

I haven't followed football this year. Must be why my Seahawks are only 10-6 this season.

Lord of Planar said:

LOL...

I haven't followed football this year. Must be why my Seahawks are only 10-6 this season.

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I've recorded the game and will be watching it with my friend when she arrives.

Sadly, she lived in the vicinity of Charlotte so we will be rooting for the Panthers. *sorry*

code1211 said:

I've recorded the game and will be watching it with my friend when she arrives.

Sadly, she lived in the vicinity of Charlotte so we will be rooting for the Panthers. *sorry*

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LOL...

We?

Have a little rivalry with her and make intimate bets...

Lord of Planar said:

LOL...

We?

Have a little rivalry with her and make intimate bets...

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I see...

I think a good case could be made for this being ACTUAL anthropogenic warming!

As it turns out, no amount of rooting for Seattle could have helped them on that day. I may have to explore this tac in future games, though.

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