The Human Impacts Database

A collection of useful numbers for quantifying the impacts of the human presence on Earth.


Quantity Value HuID Source Type
N2O emissions from natural sources 1.52 (+0.52, - 0.26) × 1010 kg N2O / yr 68619 Hanqin Tian et al.
Greenhouse gas emissions for potato production ≈ 0.9 kg CO2e / Mcal 69717 Eshel, G., Shepon, A., Makov, …
Ratio between anthropogenic emissions and natural removal of CO2 1.88 ± 0.46 70632 Friedlingstein, P., Jones, M. W., …
Global surface specific humidity change 0.20 ± 0.10 g / kg 73015 Met Office Hadley Centre
Green house gas emissions for wheat production ≈ 0.25 kg CO2e / Mcal 74420 Eshel, G., Shepon, A., Makov, …
Net land CO2 sink (1.28 ± 0.26) × 1013 kg CO2 / yr 74574 Friedlingstein, P., Jones, M. W., …
Global surface temperature change 1.20 ± 0.16 °C 76539 NOAA
Green house gas emissions for beef production 10 ± 2 kg CO2e equivalent / Mcal 78596 Eshel, G., Shepon, A., Makov, …
Global surface temperature change 1.22 ± 0.05 °C 79598 NASA Goddard Institute for Space …
Atmospheric CO2 concentration ≈ 420 parts per million 81043 Scripps CO2 Program
CO2 equivalent emissions from farmed bivalve production ≈ 900 - 1900 kg CO2e / t 81343 Gephart, J.A., et al.
Global concrete consumption ≈ 2.34 × 1013 kg / yr 81346 Miller, S.A., Horvath, A., and …
Mass of nitrogen needed for poultry production (3.0 ± 1.0) × 10-2 kg Nr / Mcal 81737 Eshel, G., Shepon, A., Makov, …
CO2 equivalent emissions from farmed tilapia production ≈ 10,000 - 11,00 kg CO2e / t 82500 Gephart, J.A., et al.
Global production of potash ≈ 6.6 × 1010 kg / yr 84507 International Fertilizer Association