ABSTRACT
The anthropogenic releases of large amounts of gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, the increases in the malpractice of deforestation, and those agricultural practices requiring large amounts of synthetic nutrient applications, have disrupted natural ecological cycles, leading to the destabilization of natural processes around the globe. Considering the implication of these giant disturbances, this chapter examines the global biogeochemical cycles in the context of the anthropogenic activities which are negatively impacting global systems. It offers a general discourse on the direct impacts of anthropogenic forces upon ecosystems, and discusses some social and ethical approaches that may help to mitigate runaway anthropogenic change. The interconnectedness of the four major spheres can be physically demonstrated by the existence of elements of each sphere in a single location or in a piece of natural material found anywhere on the earth.
