The gaia hypothesis holds that earths physical and biological processes are linked to form a complex, selfregulating system and that life has affected this system over time. However, new discoveries have made convincing arguments against lovelocks gaia hypothesis. Lynn margulis, department of biology, boston university, 2. This entity has closely controlled selfregulatory negative feedback loops that keep the conditions on the planet within boundaries that are favorable to life. Department of earth and planetary science, university of. To license this film and get a higher quality version for broadcastfilm purposes, contact av geeks llc. The theory you asked about is known as the gaia hypothesis.
The world can be seen as a complex interacting system, behaving in. Beyond these generally accepted facts, the gaia hypothesis advances three central propositions. The optimal for life in the original gaia hypothesis is replaced by mutually enhanced stability of the physical and. Life, or the biosphere, regulates or maintains the climate and the atmospheric composition at an optimum for itself. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Specifically models showing extrapolation of the future and the study of ancient rocks have threatened the concreteness of the gaia hypothesis. This describes the basics of the gaia hypothesis or theory. This 30 minute video was produced by the lewis research center as part of their nasa at work series. May 18, 2016 this describes the basics of the gaia hypothesis or theory. Gaia has been a fruitful hypothesis generator, and has prompted many intriguing conjectures about how biological processes might contribute to planetaryscale regulation of atmospheric chemistry. Implications for a christian political theology of the environment by stephen b. Scharper, an article in cross currents, the journal of the association for religion and intellectual life. Gaia has been a fruitful hypothesis generator, and has prompted many intriguing conjectures about how biological processes.
Homeric hymn calls gaia mother of all, eldest of all beings, while the theogony of eighthcentury b. The gaia hypothesis a, also known as the gaia theory or the gaia principle, proposes. Does the gaia hypothesis imply that the biosphere is a single living organism. Individuals are really part of a bigger, single entity called gaia. One part of gaia that is clearly fact is the recognition that earths organisms have a signi.
Gaia hypothesis definition of gaia hypothesis by the free. The scientifically accepted form of the hypothesis. Is earth really a sort of giant living organism as the gaia hypothesis predicts. Its time to take the gaia hypothesis seriously facts so. Gaia international society for the study of religion. The gaia hypothesis criticism on the hypothesis the hypothesis would be unscientific there would be no way for evolution by natural selection to lead to altruism on a global scale evidence for the hypothesis the existence of oxygen the existence of carbon dioxide. Gaia appears to be a selfregulating system, continually adjusting its chemical, physical, and biological processes in order to support life in its continuing evolution. The hypothesis contends that this system as a whole, called gaia, seeks a. The gaia hypothesis, absent the spiritual connotations, has now been accepted into mainstream science and renamed the gaia theory. A new look at life on earth it revolutionized the perspective of earth as a living being and. The gaia hypothesis says that the temperature, oxidation state, acidity, and certain aspects of the rocks and waters are kept constant, and that this homeostasis is maintained by active feedback processes operated automatically and unconsciously by the biota. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Fact, theory, and wishful thinking 393 clarify and focus the gaia debate, which seemed to be at risk of becoming a shouting match between disciples and detractors.
This system as a whole called gaia seeks a physical and chemical environment optimal for contemporary life. Gaia contains elements of fact, theory, and wishful thinking. Biologyhans papers 2010tilman and downing 1994 nature. New finding may hold key to gaia hypothesis of earth as. Arguably the most visible and controversial attempt to understand earth as a system has been lovelocks gaia theory. It argues that we are far more than just the third rock from the sun, situated precariously between freezing and. Gaia hypothesis simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In refining the theory, james kirchner at the first gaia chapman conference, stated that there are two alternatives to gaia hypothesis. Gaia hypothesis simple english wikipedia, the free. The gaia hypothesis central theme is that biological processes homeostatically maintain, on a planetary scale, geochemical and climatic conditions favorable. The gaia hypothesis is for those who like to walk or simply stand and stare, to wonder about the earth and the life it bears, and to speculate about the consequences of our own presence here.
It can be found in most environmental science textbooks. Gaia hypothesis students britannica kids homework help. Redfield in the mid1950s, it was english scientist and inventor james lovelock that gave. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis. The gaia hypothesis university of california, berkeley. From the moment life first appeared on earth it has worked hard to make earth a more comfortable place to. The gaia theory offers insights into climate change, energy, health, agriculture, and other issues of great, if not urgent, importance. The gaia hypothesis was first scientifically formulated in the 1960s by the independent research scientist dr. Gaia hypothesis 1 gaia hypothesis the study of planetary habitability is partly based upon extrapolation from knowledge of the earths conditions, as the earth is the only planet currently known to harbour life.
A hypothesis stating that earths biota constitute a single interconnected system that affects or determines the physical and chemical conditions within the biosphere, including such conditions as global temperatures, the composition of the atmosphere, and the salinity of seawater. The gaia hypothesis arose from the involvement in the. Gaia hypothesis i would like to know the name of the theory which states that the earth is a living organism much like us human beings. Oct 25, 2015 this system as a whole called gaia seeks a physical and chemical environment optimal for contemporary life. May 15, 2012 is earth really a sort of giant living organism as the gaia hypothesis predicts. This video is a supplement to the book, ecological identity. Gaia hypothesis the gaia hypothesis is an ecological hypothesis proposing that the biosphere and the physical components of the earth atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere are closely integrated to form a complex interacting system that maintains the climatic and biogeochemical conditions on earth in a preferred homeostasis. Though, as pak notes, the gaia hypothesis did not begin to shape terraforming sf until the 1970s, the idea that humans are a part of an interdependent, living system pervades nearly all of the terraforming narrative tradition. The gaia hypothesis by michael ruse gets to the heart of the question. England and lynn margulis, department of biology, boston university, 2, oummington street. In the 1960s, dr james lovelock, a british scientist and inventor, first suggested the gaia hypothesis, which proposed that the earth can be viewed as a single living functioning system. A new discovery made at the university of maryland may provide a key to answering this question. The gaia hypothesis formulated by james lovelock in the late 1960s presents the notion that our planet is a single selfmanaging organism which regulates the conditions necessary for life. The gaia hypothesis, also known as gaia theory or gaia principle, proposes that all organisms and their inorganic surroundings.
If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page misc talk. In so called weak gaia, life tends to make the environment stable for the flourishing of all life. The gaia hypothesis and earth system science the following is an excerpt from scientists on gaia by stephen schneider and penelope boston mit press. Organisms and their environment evolve as a single, self regulating system. Gaia hypothesis, model of the earth in which its living and nonliving parts are viewed as a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism. Gaia hypothesis definition of gaia hypothesis by the. After its publication in james lovelocks book gaia. For more than a century students of the evolution of the living and nonliving parts of the earth have known that life influences the physical and chemical characteristic of the planet. Gaia hypothesis definition of gaia hypothesis by medical. It is an alternative to that pessimistic view which sees nature as a primitive force to be subdued and conquered. James lovelock and the gaia hypothesis new scientist. Jun 10, 2007 the gaia hypothesis was first scientifically formulated in the 1960s by the independent research scientist dr. The concept of the gaia hypothesis originates from the 1960s when british scientist and independent researcher james lovelock began his work with nasa on developing methods to detect life on mars.
I pointed out that the singular term, the gaia hypothesis, was being applied to many different propositions, ranging from. The view that all ecosystems and living things are interdependent. Particularly because i have been a vocal critic of the gaia hypothesis, it is important to make clear that i substantially agree with many of its central themes. In fact, wider research proved the original hypothesis wrong, in the sense that it is not life alone but the whole earth system that does the regulating. As mentioned previously the gaia theory found its greatest resonance with the new age movement who were entranced by the mystical side of gaia.
The uncertainties surrounding global climate change provide ample evidence, if any were necessary, of the need for a wholesystem view of the earth. Gaia gaia earth is the name of a greek goddess also called ge, from whose name words like geology and geography are derived. Gaia hypothesis an hypothesis developed by the british scientist, james lovelock, to suggest that the earth is one living system, such that the distinction between organic and inorganic matter is false. The acceptance of the gaia hypothesis was, and remains, slow, halting, and incomplete. Scientists debate gaia is a multidisciplinary reexamination of the gaia hypothesis, which was introduced by james lovelock and lynn margulis in the early 1970s. The third is to outline new directions for gaia theory, in the hope that it can contribute to the further development of earth system science. Gaia hypothesis viewing earth as a single organism. They argued that global selfregulation could never have evolved, as the organism was the unit of selection, not the biosphere. The notion that the biosphere exerts important controls on the atmosphere and other parts of the earth system has increasingly gained acceptance among earth and ecosystem scientists. James lovelocks gaia hypothesis archive ouverte hal. I pointed out that the singular term, the gaia hypothesis, was being.
The gaia hypothesis central theme is that biological processes homeostatically maintain, on a planetary scale, geochemical and climatic conditions favorable for life. Gaia hypothesis synonyms, gaia hypothesis pronunciation, gaia hypothesis translation, english dictionary definition of gaia hypothesis. One is just the usual inertia, the standard conservative reluctance to accept new ways of thinking. Gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments20 and provided a number of useful predictions,21 and hence is properly referred to as the gaia theory. Gaia has been a fruitful hypothesis generator, and has prompted many intriguing conjectures about how biological.
Gaia hypothesis article about gaia hypothesis by the. Along with nasa colleague dian hitchcock, lovelock found that the current state of mars atmosphere was in what appeared to be a state of. Gaia hypothesis village as lovelock at the time bowerchalke, wiltshire, uk. Yet gaia was also accused of being vague and shifting. How about uniting gaia theory science and gaia hypothesis as gaia science. While this concept has its origins in the work of american oceanographer alfred c. The gaia hypothesis, also known as gaia theory or gaia principle, named after earth goddess gaia, indicates that living organisms interact with their nonliving inorganic surroundings on earth to selfregulate the earth environment, a complex system that contributes to. Underlying many of the issues pak examines in this study is the influence of the gaia hypothesis. Organisms can greatly affect their environments, and the feedback coupling between organisms and their environments can shape the evolution of both. Overall, the gaia theory is a compelling new way of understanding life on our planet.
That the changing nature of the climate cannot be solved by human beings. Not to be hasty, but, science textbooks are not the last word here. James lovelock, in collaboration with another eminent scientist, the microbiologist lynn margulis, first explained the gaia hypothesis as such. The gaia hypothesis, also known as gaia theory or gaia principle, named after earth goddess gaia, indicates that living organisms interact with their nonliving inorganic surroundings on earth to selfregulate the earth environment, a complex system that contributes to maintaining the conditions for life on the planet.
The hypothesis was further developed by lynn margulis, a microbiologist at the university of massachusetts, in the 1970s. James lovelock, as a consequence of his work for nasa on methods of detecting life on mars. Professor lynn margulis of boston university speaks before an audience of nasa employees in 1984 to explain the gaia hypothesis. The gaia hypothesis, named after the ancient greek goddess of earth, posits that earth and its biological systems behave as a huge single entity. This idea was first made popular by dr james lovelock in the 1960s with his gaia hypothesis. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments 8 and provided a number of useful predictions, 9 and hence is properly referred to as the gaia theory. The gaia hypothesis posits that the earth is a selfregulating complex system involving the biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrospheres and the pedosphere, tightly coupled as an evolving system. The gaia hypothesis was an influence on the deep ecology movement. Earth is a perfect planet for life but, according to gaia theory, this is no coincidence. A number of distinct hypotheses have been proposed, spanning a range from the self. Could it be possible that the entire planet is a single superorganism.
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