--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thus, human beings are now carrying out a…" description: "\"Thus, human beings are now carrying out a large scale geophysical experiment of the kind that could not have happened in the past...Within a few centur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/roger-revelle-80833_atmosphere_thus-human-beings-are-now-carrying-out-a_2900106.jpg" --- # Thus, human beings are now carrying out a large scale… ![“Thus, human beings are now carrying out a large scale geophysical experiment of the kind that could not have happened in the past...Within a few centuries we are returning to the atmosphere and oceans the concentrated organic carbon stored in sedimentary rocks over hundreds of millions of years.” quote by Roger Revelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/roger-revelle-80833_atmosphere_thus-human-beings-are-now-carrying-out-a_2900106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/roger-revelle-80833_atmosphere_thus-human-beings-are-now-carrying-out-a_2900106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/roger-revelle-80833_atmosphere_thus-human-beings-are-now-carrying-out-a_2900106.jpg) > “Thus, human beings are now carrying out a large scale geophysical experiment of the kind that could not have happened in the past...Within a few centuries we are returning to the atmosphere and oceans the concentrated organic carbon stored in sedimentary rocks over hundreds of millions of years.” [Roger Revelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-revelle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human activity is rapidly releasing ancient carbon, altering Earth’s climate on an unprecedented scale. **In simple terms:** We are releasing old carbon, changing climate. Key Takeaway Recognize and reduce fossil fuel use. Themes environment climate anthropocene Mood concerned urgent Type scientific warning When to use this quote - industrial emissions - energy policy - public awareness - global cooperation Key Concepts carbon cycle geophysical impact Questions to Reflect On - How can societies accelerate carbon reduction? - What feedback loops could amplify impacts? A Different Perspective Complex systems may buffer changes, delaying visible effects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) [Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon/) [Carbon Stored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon-stored-663360/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Geophysical Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geophysical-experiment-663359/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Large scale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-scale/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Organic Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organic-carbon-663361/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Scale Geophysical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scale-geophysical-663362/) [Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“Thus human beings are now carrying out a large scale geophysical experiment of a kind that could not have happened in the past nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/thus-human-beings-are-now-carrying-out-a-large-scale-geophysical/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [“Since about 1850, twice as much atmospheric carbon dioxide has derived from farming practices as from the burning of fossil fuels (the roles crossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/since-about-1850-twice-as-much-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide-has-derived/) [Judith D. 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This may be achieved, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/our-agreements-on-creating-the-conditions-for-preparing-a-peace/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The most essential mental quality for a free people, whose liberty is to be progressive, permanent and on a large scale, is much stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-most-essential-mental-quality-for-a-free-people-whose-liberty-is/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [History is neither more nor less than biography on a large scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-de-lamartine/history-is-neither-more-nor-less-than-biography-on-a-large-scale/) [Alphonse de Lamartine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-de-lamartine/) > [That was the most exciting period, I think: at first, when you get the success on that really large scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collen/that-was-the-most-exciting-period-i-think-at-first-when-you-get-the/) [Phil Collen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collen/) > [Longing on a large scale makes history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/longing-on-a-large-scale-makes-history/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale has also the power to control the government and legalize their robbery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-class-which-has-the-power-to-rob-upon-a-large-scale-has-also-the/) [Eugene V. 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Imagine our military bases covered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/i-am-very-focused-on-large-scale-deployments-of-renewable-power-and/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More by Roger Revelle > [We thought of universities as the cathedrals of the modern world. In the middle ages, the cathedral was the center and symbol of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-revelle/we-thought-of-universities-as-the-cathedrals-of-the-modern-world-in/) [Roger Revelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-revelle/) > [We know less about the ocean's bottom than about the moon's back side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-revelle/we-know-less-about-the-ocean-s-bottom-than-about-the-moon-s-back-side/) [Roger Revelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-revelle/) [Explore all 3 Roger Revelle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-revelle/) ## More Atmosphere quotes > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. 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