From Neptunism And Orology To A Holistic View Of The Environment: Alexander Von Humboldt's Legacy In Earth System Science (537914)

In an effort to highlight Alexander von Humboldt's seminal contributions to Earth System Science I explore his studies on the importance of vertical and latitudinal temperature gradients with regard to mountain building and surface processes in Central and South America. From today's perspective von Humboldt's studies presaged the necessity for a paradigm shift in the Earth sciences from isolationist, disciplinary thinking toward more interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Virtually all research areas in modern Earth and Environmental sciences were already addressed by Alexander von Humboldt in the early 19^th century. From mineralogy, geology, stratigraphy and paleontology to climatology, biogeography and geobotany and oceanography he touched upon many subdisciplines of the Earth and Environmental sciences. Although von Humboldt published very early on in disciplinary journals, he viewed these different fields of research as an integral part of a required holistic approach in science, where the different spheres of our planet, their linkages, inherent forcing mechanisms and feedbacks need to be analyzed. Consequently, in his studies von Humboldt also evaluated the influence of humans on the environment, particularly with regards to changes in microclimate and erosion processes associated with the demise of biodiversity. During his career he devoted himself increasingly to the transfer of knowledge. Taken together, Humboldt thus paved the way for an integrative approach to the exploration of the Earth system across different time and length scales and beyond disciplinary boundaries - a timely approach that is now more than ever needed to understand, characterize and model the forces and processes active in the Earth system, but also to enhance Earth Science literacy of the general public, politicians and administrators.