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Surviving 1000 Centuries

Can We Do It?

  • Book
  • © 2008

Overview

Authors:
  1. Roger-Maurice Bonnet

    1. The International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, Switzerland

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  2. Lodewijk Woltjer

    1. Observatoire de Haute Provence, Saint-Michel l’Observatoire, France

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    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Reviews the physical conditions for survival of life on Earth over the next 1000 centuries
  • Analyses the interacting factors affecting the sustainability of Earth’s natural resources
  • Stresses the need for active management of Earth's resources in the 21st century to ensure long-term survival
  • Highlights the influence of observations from space on the technical, scientific and political tools for survivability

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books (PRAXIS)

Part of the book sub series: Popular Science (POPS)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
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  2. Introduction

    Pages 1-11

  3. A Brief History of the Earth

    Pages 13-52

  4. Cosmic Menaces

    Pages 53-91

  5. Terrestrial Hazards

    Pages 93-151

  6. The Changing Climate

    Pages 153-185

  7. Climate Futures

    Pages 187-211

  8. The Future of Survivability: Energy and Inorganic Resources

    Pages 213-252

  9. The Future of Survivability: Water and Organic Resources

    Pages 253-279

  10. Leaving Earth: From Dreams to Reality?

    Pages 281-314

  11. Managing the Planet’s Future: The Crucial Role of Space

    Pages 315-365

  12. Managing the Planet’s Future: Setting-Up the Structures

    Pages 367-402

  13. Conclusion

    Pages 403-413

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 415-422
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Keywords

About this book

The circumstances that will shape the long-term future of our planet will be constrained by what is physically possible and what is not. This full color book provides a quantitative view of our civilization over the next 100,000 years, in comparison to the 40-60,000 years it took for modern humans to emerge from Africa, on the basis of contemporary scientific and technological knowledge. The evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere and the origin of water are highlighted as the most important factors for the emergence and the development of life.

The authors consider both cosmic and natural hazards, pointing out that scientific information provided by satellites and communication systems on the ground could prevent many unnecessary casualties by forward planning and the installation of elementary precautions. The Earth’s evolving climate is considered, showing how greenhouse gases have played an important role in the past climate, whereas human industrial and agricultural emissions will greatly impact our future.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"A good initial feeling for the thesis of the book can be obtained simply by reading the … chapters. … the authors turn to threats to survival from outside (from nearby supernovae to asteroid impact) and from inside (disease, seismic events, and climatic hazards), before turning to the current burning issue of climate change, both past and future. … This is a fascinating and challenging book which is published at just the right moment. It should be required reading for all politicians … ." (Robert Connon Smith, The Observatory, Vol. 129 (1210), June, 2009)

Authors and Affiliations

  • The International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, Switzerland

    Roger-Maurice Bonnet

  • Observatoire de Haute Provence, Saint-Michel l’Observatoire, France

    Lodewijk Woltjer

About the authors

Dr R M Bonnet and Dr L Woltjer are outstanding, internationally renowned scientists. During his long tenure at the European Space Agency, Dr Bonnet has directed the launch of 17 artificial scientific satellites, initiating the development of the Huygens probe placed on the NASA Cassini Saturn Orbiter which landed on Titan on 14 January 2005, developing the successful Mars Express mission and directing the SMART-1 European lunar mission. He is President of COSPAR and Executive Director of ISSI and has acquired a world reputation in the field of space politics. After 11 years at Columbia University, NY, Dr Woltjer returned to Europe as Director General of ESO for 13 years. Since then he has worked closely with the Observatories de Haute Provence in France and the University of Florence in Italy, was President of the International Astronomical Union and Chairman of the Space Science Advisory Committee of ESA for 4 years.

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