The Changing Proportion of Biomass in the Earth's Total Matter | CBCGDF Climate Change Working Group

Biomass, which encompasses all living organisms on Earth, has seen significant alterations in its proportion to the overall matter on the planet over time.

In the past, biomass was a dominant component of the Earth's matter. Vast primeval forests covered large portions of the land. These forests were home to an enormous variety of plant and animal life. The trees in these forests were not only a major part of the biomass but also played a crucial role in various ecological processes. They were involved in carbon sequestration, absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it as carbon in their trunks, branches, and roots. This process had a significant impact on the global climate, helping to keep it relatively stable.

However, with the advent of human civilization and its expansion, the situation has changed dramatically. Deforestation has been one of the major factors contributing to the decrease in biomass. As humans cleared forests for agricultural land, the amount of plant biomass was directly reduced. This not only affected the trees but also the countless organisms that depended on the forest ecosystem for survival. The soil, which was once rich in organic matter due to the decomposition of fallen leaves and dead organisms in the forest, also started to lose its fertility.

In addition to deforestation, over - exploitation of marine resources has also had an impact on biomass. Overfishing has reduced the populations of many fish species, which are an important part of the oceanic biomass. This has disrupted the marine food chains and ecosystems.

On the other hand, the growth of human - made materials has been exponential. Concrete is used in large quantities for construction, and plastics are everywhere in our daily lives. These materials are not biodegradable and are accumulating in the environment. They do not participate in the natural cycles that biomass is part of. As a result, the proportion of biomass in relation to the total matter on Earth is decreasing.

This change has far-reaching consequences. A reduction in biomass means less carbon sequestration, which contributes to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. It also affects biodiversity as habitats are destroyed. The imbalance in the proportion of biomass and non - biomass matter on Earth is a major environmental concern that needs to be addressed through sustainable practices and conservation efforts.

 

Translator: Richard

Checked by Sara

Editor: Richard

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