Question

Cite four global trends that indicate that the health of planet Earth is suffering.

Short answer

Four global trends indicating the health of planet Earth is suffering are Global Warming, Deforestation, Ocean Acidification and Loss of Biodiversity.

Step-by-step solution

Identification of major ecological threats

Start by researching and identifying global trends that are damaging the health of the Earth. These are usually rooted in unsustainable human activities that degrade various aspects of the environment.

Describe Global Warming

Global warming is a term that describes the warming of the planet over the past century. It's primarily caused by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, which increase the amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere.

Discuss Deforestation

Deforestation is the large-scale removal of forests, often due to human activities such as agriculture, logging, and mining. This results in loss of habitat for millions of species and disrupts vital ecosystem functions.

Explain Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification is a trend that is reducing the pH of the Earth's oceans, making them more acidic. This is happening because the oceans are absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid.

Discuss Loss of biodiversity

Loss of Biodiversity is a significant global trend. It is the loss of species variety in an ecosystem or the entire planet. It's often caused by habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation of species.