Our Fragile Earth

Our planet is rather small when compared to the majority of the planets in our solar system and the amount of it that we rely on for human life is less than 1% of the mass. We survive primarily on the top of the earth’s crust and could only survive a few miles under the surface, assuming we could provide enough air to breathe. The crust averages less than 10 miles thick compared to 4,000 miles to the core.

Most of us survive on the surface of the crust and are dependent on the earth’s atmosphere. Humans can only survive in the Troposphere which averages about 7 miles above the surface. At 2 miles functioning for most people is hampered and above four miles most of us will require oxygen.

My point is that the space we depend on for survival is small, very small. I’m not sure we understand how our actions can negatively impact that space and thus the long-term prospect for the survival of humanity.