How humans have changed the Earth's surface in 2023

In 2023, human activities have significantly altered the Earth's surface. This transformation is evident in the creation of new artificial islands and the environmental havoc wreaked by the breach of Ukraine's Kakhovka Dam. It's hard to find a place on Earth that hasn't been touched by human activity. An estimated 95% of the Earth's landmass, excluding Antarctica, bears signs of human influence. According to a recent analysis, approximately 16% of this land has been heavily modified.

Urban development, large-scale engineering projects, and mining activities are reshaping entire landscapes. Simultaneously, deforestation and agricultural practices are drastically altering ecosystems. Human-produced pollution pervades nearly every corner of our planet. The pace of Earth's reshaping didn't slow down in 2023. Here are some of the most dramatic ways our species has altered the planet's surface this year.

Pearson Reef, also known as Phan Vinh Island, has significantly expanded due to suction dredging by Vietnam. Just two years ago, Pearson Reef was a small atoll in the South China Sea, one of over 100 reefs and sand-covered coral specks comprising the Spratly Islands. However, Vietnam, which has occupied the island since the late 1970s, initiated a major enlargement project in late 2021. Through dredging and landfilling, the country has added 163 acres of land to the island and created a sheltered harbour within the reef, as seen in a satellite image from August 2023.