Reshaping Earth

Around the globe, mining has carved  massive holes into Earth’s surface. In other places, huge mounds of trash tower several stories high. Tangles of roads crisscross the ground, and land once covered by trees has been stripped bare.

Humans’ impact on Earth’s landscape is staggering. But the extent of these changes can be hard to see without a bird’s-eye view. “Observing Earth from high above helps us identify patterns we wouldn’t see if we were just standing on the ground,” says Ruth DeFries, an ecologist at Columbia University in New York City. She analyzes satellite photos to learn how much of Earth is covered by forests, farmland, and cities.

Technology has allowed humans to make big changes to the planet’s surface, at a similar scale as geological forces like volcanoes and earthquakes, says DeFries. Some geologists have even proposed that we’re living in a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene. The name for this suggested unit of time comes from the Greek words for “man” (anthropo) and “new” (cene). Take a look at some dramatic ways people have reshaped Earth’s landscape and the toll these changes have had on the environment.

Around the globe, mining has cut giant holes into Earth’s surface. In other places, huge piles of trash stand several stories high. Tangles of roads crisscross the ground. And land that was covered by trees is stripped bare.

Humans have a huge impact on Earth’s landscape. But the size of these changes can be hard to see without a bird’s-eye view. “Observing Earth from high above helps us identify patterns we wouldn’t see if we were just standing on the ground,” says Ruth DeFries. She’s an ecologist at Columbia University in New York City. She studies satellite photos. They reveal how much of Earth is covered by forests, farmland, and cities.

Technology has allowed humans to make big changes to Earth’s surface. Humans are changing things as quickly as geological forces like volcanoes and earthquakes, says DeFries. Some geologists even suggest that we’re living in a new geological epoch. They call this unit of time the Anthropocene. The name comes from the Greek words for “man” (anthropo) and “new” (cene). People have changed Earth’s landscape in dramatic ways. Take a look at some of these and their cost to the environment.

The Ekati Diamond Mine is located in Canada about 190 kilometers (120 miles) from the Arctic Circle. To reach diamond deposits, workers use machinery to dig deep, open pits. Ekati produces about 7.5 million carats of diamonds each year—valued at about $45 billion. But removing the precious stones comes at a cost. The pits create barriers for migrating caribou herds moving across the land. Since 1986, a year after miners began prospecting in the area, the animals’ numbers have declined by 96 percent. This also affects indigenous people who rely on the animals for food and other uses.

The Ekati Diamond Mine is located in Canada. It’s about 190 kilometers (120 miles) from the Arctic Circle. To reach the diamonds, workers use machinery to dig deep, open pits. Ekati produces about 7.5 million carats of diamonds each year. They’re worth about $45 billion. But removing the precious stones comes at a cost. Herds of caribou migrate across the land, but the pits block their movement. Miners began digging in the area in 1985. Since 1986, the animals’ numbers have dropped by 96 percent. This also affects indigenous people. That’s because they rely on the animals for food and other uses.

Starting in the 1950s, the Oxford Energy company dumped as many as 20,000 scrapped tires each day at a site on the outskirts of Westley, California. It became known as the Oxford tire pile. By 1997, the pile had grown to many millions of tires. That same year, it was struck by lightning, which set the tires ablaze. Extinguishing the flames took weeks. But the pile likely caused problems long before the fire. “When you introduce a pile of tires like this,” says DeFries, “it interrupts the natural ecosystem.” She believes that the huge amount of pollution on the site probably drove local wildlife out of the area.

Starting in the 1950s, the Oxford Energy company brought old tires to a site outside Westley, California. They dumped as many as 20,000 tires each day. It became known as the Oxford tire pile. By 1997, the pile had grown to many millions of tires. That year, it was struck by lightning. The tires caught on fire. It took weeks to put out the flames. But the pile likely caused problems long before the fire. “When you introduce a pile of tires like this,” says DeFries, “it interrupts the natural ecosystem.” The site held a huge amount of pollution. She believes that probably drove local wildlife away.

This photo depicts a “spaghetti junction,” a nickname given to a complex, interweaving system of highways. This one is located in Madrid, Spain. Roads like these make it easier for people to get around but harder for animals to do the same. Roadways block animals from reaching parts of their habitat and increase the chances of vehicles hitting them. Constructing wildlife crossings, like bridges and tunnels, may allow animals to safely navigate around and across roads. But for DeFries this photo tells a bigger story. “To me, it portrays urban life,” she says. “Cities require many resources, and all of these roads are needed to bring those resources from someplace else. Those places are, therefore, impacted by cities.”

This photo shows a “spaghetti junction.” That’s a nickname for a complex, crisscrossed system of highways. This one is in Madrid, Spain. Roads like these make it easier for people to get around. But they make it harder for animals to do the same. Roadways block animals from reaching parts of their habitat. They also increase the chances of vehicles hitting the animals. People can build wildlife crossings, like bridges and tunnels. That may allow animals to move around and across roads safely. But for DeFries, this photo tells a bigger story. “To me, it portrays urban life,” she says. “Cities require many resources, and all of these roads are needed to bring those resources from someplace else. Those places are, therefore, impacted by cities.”

In 2010, paper manufacturer Asia Pulp and Paper logged this forest in the Kuantan Mudik region of Indonesia. Many species of animals, including the endangered Sumatran tiger, live there. Removing huge patches of trees is called clearcutting. It can have devastating effects on wildlife, explains DeFries. It destroys animals’ habitats, or natural homes. And, “when there’s a fragmentation of the forest, it disrupts animals’ ability to move across the landscape to find food and mates,” says DeFries. As a result, animal populations decline.

In 2010, paper manufacturer Asia Pulp and Paper logged this forest. It’s in the Kuantan Mudik region of Indonesia. Many species of animals live there. One is the endangered Sumatran tiger. Removing huge patches of trees is called clearcutting. It can have terrible effects on wildlife, explains DeFries. It destroys animals’ habitats, or natural homes. And “when there’s a fragmentation of the forest, it disrupts animals’ ability to move across the landscape to find food and mates,” says DeFries. As a result, animal populations drop.