Will human activity like burning fossil fuel, mining, waste disposal into water sources, and drilling destroy the earth?
Will human activity like burning fossil fuel, mining, waste disposal into water sources, and drilling destroy the earth?
user
That’s very difficult to say with certainty.  Earth scientists are quite certain that human activity is affecting the climate in many ways, and that the consequences will be large and adverse.  But I’m not a climate scientist, and it’s hard to know if these changes will be beyond our control.  The best scientists have suggested that humans are creating a dangerous climate in which all of us will have a hard time surviving.  I certainly do agree with that assessment.
assistant
What are some of the negative effects we're already seeing from these activities?
user
Many, many things!  The following are examples of things that have been severely impacted:
assistant
What is happening to our atmosphere?
user
Our atmosphere is warming up, becoming more and more acidic, and also more and more contaminated with pollutants.  This is very bad for all forms of life, but also causes the spread of disease, lack of water, starvation, and more.
assistant
What is the problem with the atmosphere becoming more acidic?
user
Acidity is measured in pH levels, where the lower the pH level, the more acidic the solution is.  A pH of 7 is considered neutral, and a pH less than that is acidic.  It is believed that we’ve already begun to reach acid levels in the atmosphere, but that is a major concern, because it is bad for all life, especially for the life of humans, plants, and animals.  This is because many foods, like fruits, are actually much less edible when the atmosphere is acidic.  The pH level of the ocean is decreasing as well, which is particularly dangerous for coral reefs and other sea life.
assistant
And how do these activities affect our water sources?
user
Every single part of the water cycle is being affected by human activity.  One thing that is often overlooked is that humans are a part of the water cycle, too, in the sense that we use water to live and thrive, and also to produce waste products like sewage.  But another issue is that the over-consumption of water causes many shortages in many places around the world.  Furthermore, in many places the air is becoming more and more humid, and as a result, our water sources are becoming warmer and slower flowing.  There is also a problem with salt in the water, because the oceans are becoming more acidic.
assistant
And how do these activities affect our agricultural systems?
user