A threat multiplier is defined as another agent that impacts a current situation, creating an additional set of problems while also making existing problems worse. Sometimes a seemingly innocent change in the biosphere ...

A positive feedback loop makes an existing process speed up while a negative feedback loop decreases the impact of an existing process. A source emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases while a sink retain and stores. ...

In order for global climate pacts to be effective, they must address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and not let that exceed the biosphere s ability to assimilate them. Political negotiations will also fail if they ...

The biosphere serves as the life support system for Earth and also is the basis of the human economy; therefore it should be maintained in optimal condition. In order for this maintenance to occur, a response team must be ...

Environmental refugees are produced when the human population exceeds the carrying capacity of a particular region and its inhabitants are forced to search for a more hospitable area. Since not much has been done to reduce ...

The waste, or output, of most species serves as a resource, or input, for other species. This mutualistic process can be disrupted if the output, or waste, exceeds the assimilative capacity of the species in the biosphere. ...

In the latter part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, rapid climate change and damage to the biosphere have increased the risks to Homo sapiens. So much harm has already been done to the biosphere ...