| The amount of species of plants, animals, and micro | | | | both worldwide and local patterns of climate and |
| organisms, the extensive variety of genes in these | | | | atmosphere-ocean circulation. |
| species, the diverse ecosystems on the planet, such | | | | Fluctuations in solar action during the last several |
| as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of | | | | centuries established on observations of sunspots |
| a biologically divergent Earth. Biodiversity promotes | | | | and beryllium isotopes. The cyclical nature of the sun's |
| ecosystem productivity where each species, no | | | | energy output is not yet amply understood; it differs |
| matter how small, all have an essential role to play. | | | | from the very slow change that is happening inside |
| Maintaining species and their home grounds is | | | | the sun as it matures and develops. While most |
| important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. | | | | research suggests solar variability has brought on a |
| One type of ecosystem that maybe is overlooked | | | | small cooling result from 1750 to the present, a few |
| to a greater extent than any other is perhaps also | | | | studies aim toward solar radiation increments from |
| the richest in biodiversity is the coral reefs. Coral | | | | circular sunspot activity affecting global warming. |
| reefs are functional to the surroundings and to | | | | The hominid population of the planet is estimated to |
| people in a number of ways. It is feared that very | | | | now have passed 6 billion people. Existing |
| soon, many reefs could perish. | | | | consumption patterns as seen in Europe and North |
| The climate is modifying. The earth is warming up, | | | | America can put stress on the surroundings and |
| and there is now extreme scientific consensus that it | | | | natural resources. Anthropogenic elements are human |
| is occurring, and man-evoked. With global warming on | | | | activities that change the environment. In some |
| the increase and species and their home grounds | | | | cases the chain of causality of human influence on |
| diminishing, chances for ecosystems to adapt by | | | | the climate is direct and unambiguous, while in other |
| nature are diminishing. Global Warming will lead to a | | | | cases it is less clear. Human action is very probably |
| frailer Ozone layer, because as the surface | | | | the cause for the fast increase in global average |
| temperature grows, the stratosphere will get colder, | | | | temperatures over the past several decades. Of |
| causing the normal repairing of the Ozone to slow. | | | | most concern in these anthropogenic factors is the |
| Anoxic waters are regions of sea water or fresh | | | | increase in CO2 levels due to discharges from fossil |
| water that are depleted of dissolved oxygen. This | | | | fuel burning, followed by aerosols (particulate matter |
| condition is mostly found in regions that have | | | | in the atmosphere) and cement manufacture. Other |
| confined water exchange. Anoxic waters are a | | | | factors, including land use, ozone depletion, animal |
| natural phenomenon. When oxygen is depleted in a | | | | agriculture and deforestation, are also of concern. |
| basin, bacteria first turn to the second-best electron | | | | In recent years there has been a movement |
| acceptor, which in seawater is nitrate. | | | | towards the use of assorted renewable energy |
| Over the path of millions of years, the motion of | | | | sources, and hopefully mankind can at least do its |
| tectonic plates reconfigures global land and ocean | | | | part in reducing our impact on our environment. |
| areas and establishes topography. This can impact | | | | |