PHYS 100 Veach
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Created on October 27, 2024
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Transcript
OVERPOPULATION
OVERPOPULATION IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISRUPTION TO EARTH AND IT'S NATURAL SYSTEMS.
OVERPOPULATION:
The condition of being populated with excessively large numbers (Oxford Languages).
OVERPOPULATION:The Impact of Earth's Minerals and Rocks
There are currently over 7 billion people on the earth and the demand for earths resources continue to rise and become depleted at faster rates. Below are a few facts about overpopulation and the effect of it on earth's rocks and minerals:
- Phosphorus- phosphorus is derived from phosphrous rock and guano and is used in fertilizer. The GPR initiative believes peak phosphorus will be reached by 2030 (The world counts).
- Mining of minerals is being done at an unsustainable rate due to the demand (Yuyu Xiong, 2023).
- The depletion of minerals is leading to some populations having a poorer quality of life due to not having access to essential minerals (Yuyu Xiong, 2023).
- The increased mining of minerals is causing erosion to occur at higher rates (Yuyu Xiong, 2023).
- Mineral depletion due to overpopulation effects the economy globally all over the world (Yuyu Xiong, 2023).
Overpopulation also brings about more urbanization. With increased population density and heavy urbanization, earthquakes can cause catastrophic damage in these heavily populated areas. These areas become extremely vulnerable to earthquakes, as 80% of the worlds population lives in urban areas (Donner, W., Rodriquez, H., 2011). Below are examples of catostrophic earthquake disasters due to these areas being overpopulated with, with dense infrastructure:
- The Haiti Earthquake in 2010 killed 300,000 people, and left 1,500,000 people homeless (Rafferty, J.P., 2013).
- The Great Tangshan Earthquake in northwestern China in 1976 killed 272,000 people and atleast 700,000 were injured (Rafferty, J.P., 2013).
- The Indian Ocean Earthquake in 2004 caused a massive Tsunami which killed 230,000 across 13 countries (Rafferty, J.P., 2013).
OVERPOPULATION:How Is Overpopulation Impacted by Earthquakes?
Water is a finite resource, and while we live on a planet filled with alot of water, only a small percentage is safe to drink. Populations continue to grow at a rapid rate and water scarcity continues to grow in much of the world. Approximately 1/3 of the world deals with water scarcity, which is roughly 1 billion people (Deborah.bensen, 2024). Countries that deal with water scarcity due to overpopulation include:
- India
- China
- Pakistan
How does overpopulation effect earth and earth's water systems?
Overpopulation causes several negative long-term effects to take place on earth and it's environment. Below are a few key areas in which the earth will continue to struggle due to the result of overpopulation.
- Strain on agricultural practices will continue to rise as demand for food greatly increases. This will lead to further forest distruction to turn into farm land and will also bring about subpar farming techniques, and the higher use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This will deplete soil fertility, erode bio diversity, and pollute water sources (Phillips, 2024).
- Aquatic life is affected due to re routing of natural water streams, altering habitats, pollution from agriculture run off, and increased waste water (Phillips, 2024).
- More population means higher demand for energy needs such as electricity, heating, and transportation fuel. The earths resources are finite (Phillips, 2024).
What are the long-term consequences to the Earth as a result of overpopulation?
How overpopulation impacts Earth's Oceans
Overpopulation has been detrimental to earth and it's oceans. Here are some astonishing facts that show the major impact overpopulation has taken on them.
- 15% of marine life are consumed by humans. With 7.5 billion people and rising, it is destroying marine life at a record rate (Human Population Growth and Oceans).
- Demand for fish is expected to raise to 35 million tons by 2030 due to overpopulation (Human Population Growth and Oceans).
- Overpopulation has caused increased agricultural needs, and chemical runoff is reaching the oceans creating "dead zones" and removing oxygen and killing off marine life (Human Population Growth and Oceans).
- Overpopulation has also caused a massive amount of excess waste that makes it way into the oceans. 6.8 billion ton of waste runs out into the oceans from humans every year (Human Population Growth and Oceans).
Overpopulation is continuing to destroy marine life at a record rate, along with destroying much of the oceans eco systems along with it.
In the course of the 20th century the human population sky rocketed from 1.6 billion to 6.1 billion. This massive increase in population is causing fossil fuel comsumption to happen at at even faster rate. This increase in C02 in the air is causing global warming to occur at faster rates. The current C02 levels are over 400 ppm, and it has not been that high in over 3 million years (Marx, 2020). With the increased warming of the earth seas are continuing to rise higher and the weather is becoming more erratic. It is predicted by 2100 the earths C02 levels will be between 540-970 ppm, and the earth will become very hot and have a climate like the dinosaurs had (Marx, 2020). Overpopulation continues to cause increased fossil fuel use, which in turns destroys our atmosphere and harms earths ecosystems.
How does overpopulation effect Earth's Atmosphere?
Overpopulation continues to plague our entire world. Thankfully there are some solutions to this ongoing crisis.
- Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended (Solutions). Working with men and women, especially in third world countries, about contraception can greatly reduce unintended pregnancies.
- Population policies have been proven to work in several countries. For instance Thailand has reduced its fertility rate by 75% over 2 generations, helping curve overpopulation (Solutions).
- Empowering women and formal education has shown to reduce fertility rates in many countries and help bring more light to the ongoing overpopulation crisis (Solutions).
- Improving child and maternal health can also reduce fertility rates in many countries. Several third world countries have large families due to increased mortality rate of infants and children. Increasing the care and health of these children helps combat large families.
- Thankfully there are viable solutions that help combat overpopulation. With effort and influence of these practices and concepts, overpopulation can start to get under control.
What are some of the most viable solutions?
Proposed Solutions
Personally, I believe all the solutions I presented on my previous page are the ways to combat overpopulation. Implementing population policies and encouraging smaller families could help curb the crisis, but only if the education and science behind it is properlly presented. You have to be able to make everyone understand the importance of the policy. Third world countries are having a harder time more than anyone with overpopulation. Implementing heavier population policies along with greater access to contraception would greatly decrease fertility rates. I also fully believe in getting better education and resources for women in third world countries also. That would allow them to have a better understanding of the crisis behind overpopulation, and empower them to be more than they are. These solutions could greatly decrease fertility rates around the world in my opinion.
Conclusion
Overpopulation has continued to plague the earth for several years now. There are over 7.5 billion people on earth and it is continuing to rise at rapid rates. Overpopulation has destroyed marine life by overconsumption, and polluted many bodies of water with billions of tons of waste going into our oceans every year, along with chemical run off. The increased population has caused CO2 levels to rise at rapid rates and increase global warming to record levels. Food is becoming more scarce as demand rises to feed the billions of people on earth. Safe drinkable water is becoming non-existant in many countries and areas due to unsanitary conditions from overpopulation, and crowded cities. Many of earths resources and minerals are also finite and will eventually run out, causing many peoples health to decline. Overpopulation plagues the earth and continues to get worse every year. If we continue to grow at this rapid of a rate, our world will continue to decline at faster rates every year.
References:
- Author links open overlay panelYuyu Xiong a b 1, a, b, 1, Highlights•Mineral resource depletion and environmental impact on natural resources checked.•Natural resources are negatively associated with mineral resource depletion.•Resources become scarce as economic growth increases rents.•Mineral mining and extrac, AbstractMineral resources are essential to our everyday lives but are finite and can be depleted if not managed responsibly. Unfortunately, Awan, A., Bilal, Chen, Y., Dong, K., Inglesi-Lotz, R., Jie, H., Khan, I., Liu, H., Kinnon, M. A. M., Shahnazi, R., Zakari, A., Adzawla, W., Agriculture, … Hassan, S. T. (2023, August 2). Mineral resources depletion, environmental degradation, and exploitation of natural resources: Covid-19 aftereffects. Resources Policy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301420723006189
- The world counts. (n.d.). https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/depletion-of-natural-resources
- Rafferty, J. P. (2013, May 10). The 6 Deadliest Earthquakes Since 1950. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/6-deadliest-earthquakes
- Donner, W., & Rodriguez, H. (2011, January). Disaster risk and vulnerability: The role and impact of population and society. PRB. https://www.prb.org/resources/disaster-risk/
- Deborah.bensen. (2024, March 28). How does population growth affect water scarcity? : Healing waters. Healing Waters International. https://healingwaters.org/how-does-population-growth-affect-water-scarcity/
- Phillips, J. (2024, January 2). Overpopulation and its implications for food, water, and Energy Resources. Sustainable Living. https://www.environmentalconsortium.org/overpopulation-and-its-implications-for-food-water-and-energy-resources/
- Human Population Growth and Oceans. (n.d.). https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/oceans/index.html
- Marx, A. (2020, April 15). Overpopulation’s effects on climate change and global warming - articles by magellantv. Overpopulation’s Effects on Climate Change and Global Warming - Articles by MagellanTV. https://www.magellantv.com/articles/overpopulation-in-the-era-of-climate-change
- Scientific American. (2024, February 20). Does population growth impact climate change?. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/population-growth-climate-change/
- Solutions. Population Matters. (2024, July 23). https://populationmatters.org/solutions/