Introduction

This page currently presents initial thoughts on how to specify the key indicators for the Earth Viability project. The initial model discussed here applies at all scales.

The Key Factors

The health of a planet, ocean, rivershed, or forest, etc. is determined by the interactions of a complex network of stocks and flows for many different variables, including at least:

• Physical (environmental) factors:
  • Temperature and heat;
  • Soil composition (for land areas) or water chemistry (for oceans, lakes and rivers)
  • Air Pollution
  • Flows of water, both annual totals and distribution over the year
• Biosphere:
  • Microbes
  • Insects
  • Small animals (or fishes)
  • Large animals (or fishes)
• Human impact that change these stocks and flows and introduce new flows:
  • Wild areas versus human transformed land;
  • Farming practices;
  • Water use
  • Mining
  • Garbage

The list of factors above is undoubtedly incomplete but will perhaps suffice for present purposes. A causal loop diagram of these stocks and flows will show that most of these stocks and flows are impacting almost every other one, i.e., this casual loop diagram will represent the complex web of the life-support system or the web of life itself.

Your Comments and Questions

Please, send us comments you might have on the thoughts discussed here. Let us know if you have any questions.
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