The Value of Biosphere Earth
Other Life = Our Life-Support System
What is the value of Earth's "other life" to us today?
Intelligence. Diversity. Advancement. Security. Prosperity.
The eight summaries below seek to connect people to a better understanding of what our life-support system is and how its integrity is our #1 shared priority. Each summary synopsizes the latest science in two to five paragraphs.
Papers 1-4 explain “Biosphere Earth”: Earth’s Life and Living Systems over time as an intelligent, self-healing system, and compare our system to all other known planets.
Papers 5-8 present an understanding of Earth’s biospheric/atmospheric circulation, a rationale for implementation of a Biospheric Climate Solution, and an outline how to carry it through.
The Value of Biosphere Earth
An 8-part series of short papers explaining humanity’s Life-Support System history, composition, services, comparison to other planets, and influence on the modern, global climate.
Part 1: The Basis of All Life
How old is Life itself? Check out “The Life Timeline.” Science, Essay, Podcast
Part 2: A Self-Generating “Stack”
How did our Life-Support System come into existence? Science, Essay, Podcast
3. Ecosystem Services
What is the most valuable thing on our planet? Science, Essay, Podcast
4. Earth v. the Universe
How does our Life-Support System compare to other planets’? Science, Essay
5. Local Vegetation = Local Plumbing & Cooling
Did you know? Hydrated vegetation is the best resource for local cooling and moist air circulation. Science, Essay
6. Local Vegetation = Global Plumbing & Cooling
Did you know? Hydrated vegetation can control rainfall on the other side of the world. Science, Essay,
Special essay:The Leaves are Tiny Pumps
7. Carbon Storage Potential
Rescue and restoration of Biosphere Earth’s wild lands can provide at least 100% of the greenhouse gas reduction solution by 2030. Science, Essay, Simple Math, Video
8. Global Cooling Potential
Rescue and restoration of the land system could reduce global temperatures an additional 0.5 Celsius this century. There is no other known method. Science, Essay
In each of these papers,
We find that it is Earth’s other living creatures and the living, wilderness infrastructures they create, from microbes to Red Woods and Whale Sharks, that literally comprise the only known life-support system for humans, and in myriad ways we do not fully understand yet. Since organizing the research above, we have begun applying the most powerful ideas gleaned from it to direct our work on large-scale landscape hydration.