Humans are the habitants on this earth and their actions directly impact the physical environment of earth in many ways. Human population is increasing tremendously and with this overpopulation demand of sources is also increasing as well as consumption of fossil fuels, deforestation and air pollution. Mostly these changes are leading to negative impacts on human behaviors and environmental resources.

Over the time human civilization developed many technologies which have affected our planet directly and altered our ecosystem which is irreversible. From past several decades, humans also changed the ways of observing the environment. Now we use satellites for imaging the surface of earth and also analyze recorded data over time. Here are some human factors that have lasting impact on the environment.

POPULATION BOMBS

Overpopulation of humans is the root cause for changes in environment. Further advancements in the technologies have also created new edges to an existing row, like abundance and health. If we look in to the food sector alone, our food supply chains can support more population than the past. With advancement in medical science, people can live longer and healthier. As the quality of life has improved, the expansion of population is also increasing. This can cause depletion of the finite sources of the earth at a faster pace.

DEFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION

Increased population can also mean that more space is needed to build homes. That involves clearing forest and making space for suburban and urban developments.

Deforestation tends to increase of soil erosion, destruction of animals habitats and decreasing oxygen levels. While on the other hand, industrial agriculture has created a positive impact on deforestation.  Reforestation is an effort to replace as much forest land possible and its estimated 40% of removed forest is being replaced by this method.

GENETIC MODIFICATION OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS AND AGRICULTURE

Agricultural advancement has happened over time, in which many plant-species moved to new areas and genetically modified seeds are fabricated to grow the quantity of the food. New crops are also much better in quality and can provide more food for increasing population.

Livestock farming is also on the boost. Rapid expansion of cattle population to meet dietary demand of humans has contributed to changes in the composition of gases in the atmosphere.

Industrialization in agriculture from last centuries has exacerbated effects. People have small or large farms even urban gardens of food as well as of livestock.

ENVIORNMENTAL POLLUTION

Earth and air pollution are the major factors affecting environment. Emission of harmful gases into the air can causes health problems in humans, plants and animals. It’s not just limited to air; it also has effect on soil and water. Waste from industries is also toxic for animals and plants. Now many countries have laws on environmental protection to protect ecological damage.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING

One of the most critical impacts is the consumption of fossil fuels and emissions of CO2. Emission of CO2 contributes to deterioration of earth ozone layer. Impact of such climate changes are up for debate and many scientific communities have reached a point of consensus that human activity does have some degree of impact on the global climate.

Now the climate change is observed by satellite images and scientists compare the data from past decades. In a book called Overview Timelapse : How We Change The Earth shows how humans are reshaping the earth. If you are looking to read up in detail about how humans have changed the surface of the earth in just a few years, this book highlights the causes and effects of climate change.

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