|
 |
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL (ISSN 1537-744X) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
Title: |
|
Megacities and the Environment |
| |
Authors: |
|
Decker, Ethan H.; Elliott, Scott ; Smith, Felisa A. |
|
| |
Journal: |
|
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL |
|
| |
Year: |
|
2002 |
|
| |
Volume: |
|
2 |
|
| |
Page Range: |
|
374-386 |
|
| |
Article Type: |
|
Mini-Review Article |
|
| |
Domains: |
|
Environmental Chemistry
,
Environmental Management & Policy
,
Global Systems
,
Atmospheric Systems
,
Ecosystems and Communities
|
|
| |
DOI: |
|
10.1100/tsw.2002.103 |
|
 ?
|
Article clouds not enabled. Press the image to enable for this session.
|
| |
Synopsis: |
|
The world’s 25 largest cities are voracious, consuming vast quantities of materials and energy and exporting large amounts of waste products. This urban metabolism has important consequences for local, regional, and even global biogeochemical processes. Here we review the available data on megacity resource flows and environmental impacts. We suggest that megacities are not the pinnacle of urban succession; rather, we predict that urban growth will only be halted at the earth system level. |
|
| |
Keywords: |
|
megacities, megacity biogeochemistry, urban succession, urban metabolism, atmospheric processes, earth system modeling, urban planning, metropolitan agglomerations, material consumption |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
[Related TSW Articles]
[Export to EndNote]
[Open Choice]
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Abstract |
|
| |
|
|
The world’s 25 largest cities comprise only 4% of the global population, but they have substantial impacts on the environment at multiple scales. Here we review what is known of the biogeochemistry of these megacities. Climatic, demographic, and economic data show no patterns across cities, save that wealthier cities have lower growth rates. The flows of water, fuels, construction materials, and food are examined where data are available. Water, which by mass dwarfs the other inputs, is not retained in urban systems, whereas construction materials and food predominate in the urban infrastructure and the waste stream. Fuels are transformed into chemical wastes that have the most far-reaching and global impacts. The effects of megacity resource consumption on geologic, hydrologic, atmospheric, and ecological processes are explored at local, regional, and global scales. We put forth the concepts of urban metabolism and urban succession as organizing concepts for data collection, analysis, and synthesis on urban systems. We conclude that megacities are not the final stage of urban evolution; rather, the climax of urban development will occur at a global scale when human society is at steady state with resource supply rates. |
|
| |
|
|
Related articles in:
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Comments Received |
Post Your Comment |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
sort comments by: [date posted]
[author name]
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Manoj Kumar
Posted 27th August 2007 |
|
I AM A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELHI; I'M VERY THANKFUL TO YOU FOR PROVIDING THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES TO THE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|