Planetary Boundaries Model Quiz

<p>The triggering of algal blooms and disruption of aquatic ecosystems. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure food security and maintain ecosystem health. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To establish a 'safe operating space' for human activities within Earth's ecological limits. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sustainable forestry practices. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concentration of atmospheric CO2. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It outlines the environmental conditions within which human civilization can exist long-term without major ecological damage. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure the continued supply of resources needed to support human life (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may result the collapse of crucial ecosystem functions such as carbon storage and rainfall regulation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is the level determined to be a safe threshold to prevent dangerous levels of climate disruption. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Potentially irreversible damage to the biosphere and significant threats to human societies. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The continuous movement and transformation of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.

The extraction of water from underground sources at a rate faster than it can be replenished.

The process of converting nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms usable by plants.

The natural cycle of phosphorus in the Earth's crust, water, and living organisms.

Areas in water bodies with very low oxygen levels, often caused by excessive nutrient pollution.

The range of environmental conditions within which humanity can thrive without causing irreversible damage to the planet's ecosystems.

A set of nine critical Earth system processes that regulate the planet's stability, with defined thresholds to prevent irreversible damage.

A boundary for climate change is set at a CO2 concentration of 350 ppm (parts per million), which we have already surpassed. Exceeding this threshold can lead to extreme weather, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruption.

Changes to land use, such as deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urbanization, can significantly alter ecosystems and disrupt vital processes like carbon cycling and biodiversity.

This boundary refers to the amount of fresh water available for human use and the stability of water cycles. Over-extraction, pollution, and climate change can lead to water scarcity and ecosystem disruption.

This boundary focuses on the impacts of human activities on the natural flow of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the environment. Excessive nutrient inputs can lead to pollution, algal blooms, and ecosystem degradation.

This boundary addresses the loss of biodiversity and the extinction of species. It highlights the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and protecting species diversity.

This boundary relates to the direct impacts of human activities on Earth's systems, like mining, dam construction, and other forms of large-scale infrastructure projects. It highlights the importance of minimizing environmental impacts.