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Global human-made mass exceeds all living biomass
Emily Elhacham1, Liad Ben-Uri1, Jonathan Grozovski1
1Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Nature
|December 10, 2020
Summary
Humanity
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Earth Science
- Anthropology
Background:
- Humanity is a dominant force shaping Earth's geology and ecosystems.
- An emerging question is the comparison of human material output to natural biomass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the total mass of human-made materials (anthropogenic mass).
- To compare anthropogenic mass with global living biomass.
- To characterize the human enterprise in the context of the Anthropocene.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of human-made mass.
- Comparison of anthropogenic mass with global living biomass estimates (approx. 1.1 teratonnes).
Main Results:
- In 2020 (±6 years), anthropogenic mass reached a crossover point with global living biomass.
- Anthropogenic mass has been doubling approximately every 20 years.
- Each person produces weekly anthropogenic mass exceeding their body weight.
Conclusions:
- Earth is at a crossover point where human-made mass equals global living biomass.
- This highlights the significant material impact of the human enterprise.
- Provides a mass-based characterization of the Anthropocene epoch.
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