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Climate change : the fork at the end of now /
People are currently paying much attention to the ability of present and future human populations to influence Earth's climate through the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide. According to some, such a self-induced change in our physical environment qualifies humans for t...
| Clasificación: | Libro Electrónico |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | Electrónico eBook |
| Idioma: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
[New York, N.Y.] (222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017) :
Momentum Press,
2011.
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| Edición: | 1st ed. |
| Temas: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Texto completo |
| Sumario: | People are currently paying much attention to the ability of present and future human populations to influence Earth's climate through the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide. According to some, such a self-induced change in our physical environment qualifies humans for the distinction of a "superspecies" that has passed a threshold of biological evolution. Some 2 to 3 billion years ago, another organism changed the environment in a very pronounced way: a primitive unicellular organism called cyanobacteria (blue- green algae). These cyanobacteria "discovered" a new energy source that enabled them to develop a photosynthetic apparatus that assimilates carbon dioxide through conversion of solar energy to chemical energy. In the process, a "useless" waste product, oxygen, began to accumulate and gradually changed the composition of the atmosphere. As a result, new, more complex oxygen-consuming forms of life evolved, eventually leading to humans. The algae that started it all, while still flourishing, then became the first link in a very elaborate food chain. |
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| Notas: | Title from PDF title page (viewed May 28, 2011). |
| Descripción Física: | 1 online resource (xxii, 296 pages) : illustrations, digital file |
| Bibliografía: | Includes bibliographical references (page 285) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781606502747 1606502743 |