Can the water cycle, and thereby life, be stopped through human interference or will the Earth system buffer it away as it has buffered all external disturbances in the history of the planet and kept life alive on Earth? The academic answer may most likely be, “Yes, it can be buffered but at the expense of humankind.” Since this answer is irrelevant from a human perspective, the relevant question is: “can human interference with the global water and carbon cycle be buffered without mankind disappearing?” This is the systemic question that goes beyond the myths and stories told about water.
DOI: doi.org/10.5282/rcc/6146