Everything is Bound Together and All Things Connect

Dr Simon Michaux

Introduction
Climate change debate has been polarised into two distinct camps. One camp is campaigning for fundamental change, but is operating from a point of incomplete information. The other camp is in denial of climate change. Both sides have missed the point, because the causes of the problem are far more complex than either side believes. We can understand climate change by looking at five distinct Earth systems and how they interrelate. These systems are: 1 2 3 4 5 Biosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere Geosphere Magnetosphere

On Earth, everything interacts with everything else. The ideas presented in this article are an integration of the Gaia Hypothesis and the principles of electromagnetic energy. The Gaia Hypothesis states that the Earth is a selfregulating complex system involving the biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the geosphere, all of which are governed by the interactions with the magnetosphere, resulting in a complex evolutionary system. This viewpoint helps us understand how everything has its place, both within the system we call the Earth and what we call the Solar System.
Interaction with Sun

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Biosphere

Hydrosphere

Magnetosphere

Figure 1. Earth Dynamic Systems

The conventional model for climate change suggests that the planet as a whole has been warming. New data suggests that global average temperature has plateaued and even decreased slightly since 1997, after rising for 30 years previously (Stockwell and Cox 2009).

Figure 2. Breakpoints in sea surface monthly temperature anomalies 1976 to Present (Stockwell and Cox 2009)

This is not to say that climate change is not occurring. Clearly carbon is important in some form. Figure # shows a clear correlation over the last 400 000 years. It is the authors opinion that carbon may be a signature for climate change but is not a fundamental cause.

Figure 3. Correlation between carbon dioxide and mean global temperatures (Nature 399 (3Jure), pp 420-436 1999)

So if carbon levels fluctuate dramatically and are a precursor to radical climate change, what causes the carbon levels in the atmosphere? We can understand what happens on this planet by studying other planets in the solar system that could be similar in origin. The atmospheric compositions of our sister planets, Venus and Mars, are about 95% carbon dioxide, 3-4% nitrogen, with traces of oxygen, argon and methane. The atmospheres of these planets are in stable equilibrium, which means they are chemically dead. It is life on Earth that is regulating Earth systems and making them stable. The atmosphere, the oceans, the climate, and the crust of the Earth are regulated at a state comfortable for life because of the behaviour of living organisms until such time as one species of living organism (humans) overrides and disrupts all other systems. Human activity is weakening Earths stability through destruction of natural systems fundamental purpose of which is to maintain planet stability.

Biosphere
In the past, there have been planetary-scale critical transitions and state shifts of all life systems, resulting in fundamentally different biodiversity networks. We see this as different geological ages like Jurassic or Cretaceous or Carboniferous periods, where the kinds of life found fossilised in the rock is distinctly different, from what was present before. The transition between these eras is often quite sharp. Five times in the past the planet has experienced extinction of at least 75% of Earths species; and a major reorganization of ecosystems. We dont know what has caused previous planetary transitions but we do know that human industrialisation and the resulting pollution are accelerating the changes that are currently occurring at 100-1000 times faster than normal background rate. 3

Greatest impacts on biosphere destruction are caused by: Increase in human occupation across the planet has resulted in comprehensive deforestation. As a direct consequence of this, there has been the reduction of the number of wild life animals across all species and widespread removal of bio-habitats. The application of industrial agriculture has resulted in widespread soil salinization as large trees have been removed and can no longer regulate the water table. Soil sterility through the application of industrial petrochemical herbicides and pesticides, has killed soil micro-organisms and reducing humus organic matter. The beneficial impact of micro-organisms is far more significant than current perception indicates. Land degradation and erosion as plant fauna is removed through urban development. Desertification affects the global loss of biodiversity; 27,000 species are lost each year. Arable land loss is estimated at 30 to 35 times the historical rate: 24 billion tons of fertile soil disappear/year. Modern agriculture causes of environmental pollution, including large-scale nitrogen- and phosphorusinduced environmental change. At the planetary scale, the additional amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus activated by humans are now so large that they significantly disrupt the global cycles of these two important elements. Large scale dumping of industrial waste product, for example the waste plume of a large hard rock mine site, often generating acid mine drainage pollution. Chemical pollution of artesian water reserves through the application of Coal Seam Gas fracking. Generation of toxic pollution as a waste product of industrialisation including air pollution from the fleet of petroleum fuelled vehicles, chemical contaminants in water runoff from industrial agriculture operations and chemical pollutants as a waste stream from manufacture.

No longer can we think of human actions in one part of the planet as independent. Everything that happens on the planet - the deforestation/reforestation of trees, the increase/decrease of emissions of carbon dioxide, the removal or planting of croplands - all have an effect on our planet. The human species has come to dominate through the application of industrial technology. We have done so without any forethought or true understanding of the consequences of our actions for the generations that come after us. The distribution of life across the planet is varied in character and geographic position. Some areas are more influential than others. A vast quantity of life resides in the fertile arable land and fresh water rivers.

Figure 4. A fertile river system supports a vast amount of life and is a system node

Human habitation however, also prefers to settle on those same fertile arable areas of the planet, often based around a river at the coastline. This results in that whole sensitive and influential regions, from the river mouth, through the estuary system, all the way to its source, is largely wiped out. In its place, we like to build cities and industrial scale mono-agriculture. In doing so, we are consuming non-renewable natural resources at an ever increasing rate, and converting those resources into sustained toxic pollution in almost all systems.

Figure 5 Cities sited on fertile arable land

Atmosphere
The chemical composition of the atmosphere remains fairly constant, providing the conditions that contemporary life has adapted to. All the atmospheric gases present in the atmosphere are either made by life forms or processed 5

by them. For example trees consume carbon and give off oxygen. The Gaia theory states that the Earth's atmospheric composition is kept at a dynamically steady state by the presence of life. A consequence of deforestation is a decline in oxygen levels. Around 10,000 years ago, the planets forest cover was at least twice what it is today, which means that forests are now emitting only half the amount of oxygen. Compared to prehistoric times, the level of oxygen in the earths atmosphere has declined by over a third and in polluted cities the decline may be more than 50%. A consequence of this is the degradation of a vital planetary life-support systems. This in turn suggests that the planet can no longer support as much life and could be an explanation of species extinction and degradation of biodiversity. Obvious consequences of changes in the atmosphere have been large scale weather instability. Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in high wind velocity storms (cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes). The number of category 4 and 5 storms that have formed in either hemisphere has increased.

International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS) http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ibtracs/

Figure 6. Global number of Cat 4 and 5 Hurricanes, Cyclones and Typhoons

NOAA http://www.weather.gov/

Figure 7. Increase in tornadoes in the US

The overall pattern seems to be one of large amounts of rainfall happening in very short time frames, between long periods of drought. Over all, the incidence of drought has not increased in a global context but more extreme examples of both flood and drought coexist in the same seasonal time frames. This is often punctuated by bushfires. Changes in atmospheric condition affects the distribution and flow of all water in the hydrosphere cycle. For example the CLAW hypothesis, inspired by the Gaia theory, proposes a feedback loop that operates between ocean ecosystems and the Earth's climate. The hypothesis specifically proposes that particular phytoplankton are responsive to extremes in climate, leading to a negative feedback loops that act to stabilise the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.

Hydrosphere
It is difficult to separate the various systems because they are all intimately interrelated and interdependent. For example, the increased incidence of large high velocity wind and torrential rain has resulted in an increased incidence of flooding on a global scale.

Global Active Archive of Large Flood Events http://floodobservatory.colorado.edu/Archive s/index.html

Figure 8. Global incidence of flood

Ocean life is dependent on the purity of the water and its oxygen content. The UN environment programme confirmed in 2004 that there were nearly 150 dead zones in the worlds oceans where discharged sewage and industrial waste, farm fertiliser run-off and other pollutants have reduced oxygen levels to such an extent that sea creatures can no longer live there. Oxygen starvation is reducing regional fish stocks and diminishing food supplies of populations that are dependent on fishing. NASA reports that in the North Pacific Ocean oxygen-producing phytoplankton concentrations are 30% lower today, compared to the 1980s. Again we cannot separate human activity from the effect on marine systems. In March 2011 the Fukashima incident which was a consequence of human and natural disasters, has resulted in industrial scale dumping of large quantities of radioactive isotopes into the ocean and atmosphere. The quantity of radiation that is now part of the Earths natural systems is several orders of magnitude above the Chernobyl disaster or nuclear weapons testing in the 1960s. This is having a global effect of Earths natural systems by the widespread contamination and die off of sea life.

Figure 9. Level 7 Nuclear meltdown at Fukashima power plant and Radioactive Seawater Impact Map (March 2012),

The 20th of April 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill from the BP oil drilling platform Deepwater Horizon generated a large scale environmental catastrophe. The use of the dispersant Corexit has produced even more disastrous environmental results. The Gulf of Mexico is now a dead zone where almost no life remains.

Figure 10. Gulf of Mexico oil spill 2010 BP oil platform Deepwater Horizon 8

Societys propensity to create waste and not be concerned about the effects of its disposal is having a negative feedback loop in the generation of life destroying pollution. A compelling argument could be made to suggest we shouldnt be creating this level and type of waste in the first place. The dumping of plastics in storm drains has inadvertently ended up creating an island of trash twice the size of Texas, which floats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The trash, which is mostly made up of plastic debris, floats as deep as 30 feet below the surface.

Geosphere
Conventional climate change discussion solely focuses on atmospheric carbon content, and the consequence for human society in terms of biosphere degradation. Generation of carbon by industry is probably not the controlling factor. Volcanic activity outputs vast amounts of carbon. The 2010 eruption of Mt Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland dumped more carbon into the atmosphere than human industrialisation between 1950 and 2010. This one eruption alone should have tipped the planet into extreme climate change scenarios immediately if the carbon model was completely correct. Volcanic activity could partially explain the spikes in carbon atmospheric content, radical climate change and mass extinctions in the geological past. Volcanic activity has become more prominent in the last few decades. In particular the Pacific Ring of Fire has produced a series of fairly large eruptions (compared to what we normally experience) in the last five years. There has also been a marked increase in earthquakes in the last few decades. This is an ongoing pattern that spans more than a century.

Figure 11. Increase of earthquakes (Mag 7.0 and above) This data is based on data available from USGS (NEIC)

Magnetosphere
Finally we get to an aspect that is not widely understood nor discussed in climate change debate and is perhaps the most significant of all. The magnetosphere is a bubble of magnetism that surrounds the planet and protects life on Earth from solar wind. The planet's magnetic field diverts most particles into a circular path around the Earth. There is documented evidence to show that Earth's magnetic field has been weakening and changing geometrical shape. This decrease actually began 2000 years ago, but the rate of decrease became more rapid 500 years ago and has rapidly declined in strength in the last 20 years. What this means is all life on Earth is now subject to a different electromagnetic frequency from what we have been accustomed to. An example of how humans are impacted is that the global airline industry had to recalibrate their landing and take-off procedures to account for a decreased magnetic field strength. 9

Since all matter is structurally energy based (at an atomic level), all physical matter interacts according to electromagnetic frequencies. Volcanic eruptions and large storms systems have been shown to have an electromagnetic signature. Spectacular lightning storms are more frequently observed near volcanic eruptions. Biological fertility of animals and the emotional temperament of humans are heavily influenced by the electromagnetic environment. A better understanding of what is happening on Earth at present can be gained by seeing the whole Earth system as energy driven. The planet is clearly changing its electromagnetic profile, which affects everything else. The real question is what is causing these changes in magnetic frequencies and the answer to this question lies beyond the scope of this article.

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Conclusion
Once it is understood that the long term stability of the planet is dependent on the biodiversity of life on Earth, four things are abundantly clear. 1. Climate change is real and happening and exacerbated by the degradation of living systems 2. Whole regions of the bio-system across the planet have been wiped out and/or are in steep decline. 3. Human industrialisation and population growth is a major contributor to this trend. The human civilisation and the society within it has weakened the Earth at a time it desperately needs to be strong. 4. The human impact is dangerously magnifying a natural pattern of enormous change, the genesis of which predates human industrialisation. Its not one or the other, but all at once. This makes a particular outcome ever more likely, where our fragile, selfinvolved civilisation will be fundamentally transformed. The conventional model for climate change is too simplistic. There are many clear signals that can be observed all around us. An appropriate model to understand climate change would have to directly predict these signals by acknowledging the interactive nature of the Earth as a dynamic system. The way we humans have approached the environmental stewardship of the Earth has resulted in an inevitable lesson in manners for us all. The changes happening are well advanced and in the authors opinion, unlikely to be prevented from happening. Instead, there is two pressing questions for us: How do we help the planet recover its natural dynamic systems? How do we change the way we do things to make our civilisation more resilient through this era?

The transition we are experience is necessitating the development of a more respectfully sustainable human society, but the transition will not be easy. We will all be involved whether we believe in climate change or not.

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. Chief Seattle (1854)

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