Human society can be thought of as a heat engine that is powered by fossil fuel
and sunlight. The free energy that fossil fuels provide has enabled the development of
our modern global human civilization and has artificially raised the human carrying
capacity of the planet. Here, I discuss the roots of human population theory in the
context of environmental limits, and argue that examining this issue is an essential
matter of public health. The Arabian Peninsula is particularly vulnerable to the
decline of fossil fuels. Historical records are examined to determine the distribution
of population before the fossil fuel age. Then, an agent-based model is developed to
examine the increase of carrying capacity and development of trade networks resulting
from fossil fuel production. The carrying capacity of the Arabian Peninsula without
fossil fuels is between 2.5-6 million people.
| Date of Award | Jul 2020 |
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| Original language | English (US) |
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| Awarding Institution | - Physical Sciences and Engineering
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| Supervisor | Tadeusz Patzek (Supervisor) |
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