 Cover | |
| Author | Toby Tyrrell |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Earth science, the Gaia hypothesis |
| Publisher | Princeton University Press |
Publication date | July 21, 2013 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback), eBook |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-0-691-12158-1 |
On Gaia: A Critical Investigation of the Relationship between Life and Earth is a 2013 book by Earth system scientist Toby Tyrrell, which critically examines the Gaia hypothesis, originally proposed by James Lovelock in the 1970s. The Gaia hypothesis suggests that life on Earth actively contributes to maintaining the planet's habitability through complex interactions between living organisms and their environment. Tyrrell's book argues against the credibility of this hypothesis, drawing on evidence from a wide range of scientific disciplines including climate science, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Through a detailed analysis of the interactions between life and Earth, Tyrrell concludes that the biologically-mediated feedback mechanisms proposed by the Gaia hypothesis are not the main reason for Earth's past environmental stability and do not ensure protection against poor human stewardship of the planet.