BBC2 - Earth - Power of the planet

[Chronictank]

Nice fresh outlook on the situation on the earth and done very objectively, finally a program my liscence fee money is worth
I think he is pretty spot on, every civilisation has a time to rise and fall

If we were to burn all fossil fuels on the earth, it would take 1 million years for the earth to recover
(side effect being we die out )

Earth doesn't need saving, end of the day it will recover. What will change is whether we as a species will survive as we have evolved to survive on earth as it is now not as it will change to be

Discuss

 

[Celven]

It has indeed been a captivating series to watch, and as Dr Ian (or his scriptwriters) so brilliantly put it, it's us we need to worry about, not the Earth.

I guess we'd like to think we have a huge influence on the Earth but the truth is it will recover within about a million years after we die out (this is a very short space of time in terms of the Earth). The problem is that we could quite possibly save our own skin but a lot of people want to enjoy the Earth which - for now - is being destroyed.

 

[Dudley52]

Aren't we slowly working on ways of saving us/the earth though? With biofuels etc being developed. I know theres issues like we still need enough room to farm food etc.

 

[Solo]

Never got round to watching it yet, the description about todays episode looked interesting - on Jupiter's influence on Earth.

Will have to d/l it from uknova.

But yes in the grand scheme of things we are part of a absolutely tiny chapter of Earth's history and it will be here long after our time. This is summed up really well in Bill Bryson's - Short history of everything. While we have an insignificant effect on the Earth itself we will play a large part in determining the future of the current regiem of life here. Re- climate change and pollution effect on ourselves and all current living things.

 

[crispy]

Nice fresh outlook on the situation on the earth and done very objectively, finally a program my liscence fee money is worth

Yeah Not that i pay anything to the BBC (guess why) i still love to watch those horizon documentaries. Lotsa good tv from the BBC thb

 

[Chronictank]

Aren't we slowly working on ways of saving us/the earth though? With biofuels etc being developed. I know theres issues like we still need enough room to farm food etc.

its not fuels that are the issue, the whole ecosystem (including the weather) relies on a certain climate when pushed beyond the acceptable threshold it results in extinction. If you think about all of our farming methods it all relies on the current system staying as it is (im not talking about minor things like flooding, the occasional hurricane etc were talking globally)
At this point in time we dont really have any alternatives to mass creation of food to feed the planet let alone supply fresh water that doesnt rely on seasons etc
Having fuel is the first step yes, but its a long way from self reliance
However we have one thing the bacteria (first time the earth flooded) and dinosaurs (metero is the most common explanation) didn't the ability to use tools so chances are we will find some way.

Another thing you need to bear in mind is that there was a human race before us, the Mayan's in the mexican jungle simply disapeared off the face of the earth, it is likely this also was caused by climate change and they were'nt able to adapt fast enough (regardless which train of thought you follow be it starvation, sea levels, drought, political turmoil etc etc)

Unfortunately it will be at a cost, especially since we will inevitably lose about 50% the land mass of the earth so i guess there will be some sort of war for land or rationing policy (like china and japan)

I personally am glad this whole global warming frenzy has begun, the only problem is people are being duped into thinking if we remove our carbon input (remember the forests only absorb about 20% of the co2 we make, however forests have an amazing ability to detect climate change and grow quicker thus absorbing more co2, the problem however is that we are cutting them all down) we will save the earth
we wont, this is a fact, the earth will warm up, the caps will melt, its just how quickly and whether we are in a position to deal with it
While it is unlikely to be in my lifetime my concerns would be the wrong issues are being focused on

 

[Rookiescot]

Ah yes ... but .... as described in the programme when the giant lizards roamed the earth it was 15 degC warmer !

Now as I understand it those giant lizards must have been driving 4x4s or high powered sports cars to have caused that and yet all these "fossile digs" find no evidence of those cars.

Its a conspiracy i tell ya.

They have huge vaults of fossilised Ferraris located in vaults at area 51.

Where Bugz works

 

[Lamp]

I really enjoyed the programme. Especially the volcanos episode (I want to be a volcano when I grow up!), and the atmosphere programme, when he's taken for a spin in a jet through and above the weather clouds.

 

[Huntingtons]

I guess we'd like to think we have a huge influence on the Earth but the truth is it will recover within about a million years after we die out (this is a very short space of time in terms of the Earth). The problem is that we could quite possibly save our own skin but a lot of people want to enjoy the Earth which - for now - is being destroyed.

well, this is not certain - we have no proof that what we do will not have a permanent effect that will cause the earth to slowly die and wither of any lifeform. i believe it will recreate itself but it is not certain in any way

 

[Solo]

Ah yes ... but .... as described in the programme when the giant lizards roamed the earth it was 15 degC warmer !

I thought the massive insects (dragonflies - 1m wingspan) and lizards were roughly along the lines of a much higher oxygen content in the atmosphere meant respiration was efficient enough to support much organisms. Although that is likely to be in addition to much hotter climates.

Meganeura - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Permian - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Celven]

well, this is not certain - we have no proof that what we do will not have a permanent effect that will cause the earth to slowly die and wither of any lifeform. i believe it will recreate itself but it is not certain in any way

Well to truly understand it you need to know how long it would take this for the Earth to recover. Now to us this timescale is huge, and if you think about it it is and would make sense that it would take that long to recover (I would have thought it would take less to recover).

Though - in comparison with the Earth's history - the timescale needed to get back to normal is miniscule (compared with the Earth's history). So the Earth will take a long time to recover, but not long in terms of its existence. I guess it's rather confusing but if you look at it in that way (I am sure there are people who could explain it better) it makes sense.

 

[Huntingtons]

yes yes all that i know but im saying its not certain because we have no real idea of how we effect the earth on the wide timescale. i have no solid proof that earth will go back to normal from - lets say, global nuclear war or what might happen.

 

[Celven]

Ah yes you are right, I misinterpreted your post .

Though it's pretty nice to think the Earth will recover after we've gone ^^.

 

[Huntingtons]

its the only way its barable to be human - that we are quite useless and unimportant for the earth