Decisions made now will have profound impacts on the Earth for centuries to come.
The invisible dances taking place on tiny scales have profound impacts on our everyday lives – both for good and for ill.
Slight changes in temperatures and moisture can have profound impacts on soil, altering the composition of soil life and the types of plants that will grow.
"I would say that this is one more instance that shows that sleep apnea can have profound impacts for people's health," he added.
Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future, said: "Internet users have become increasingly aware that seemingly obscure and complex policies that impact technology can have profound impacts on our most basic rights to communicate and express ourselves freely.
The National Environmental Policy Act is the cornerstone of protection for our citizens and natural resources -- and new limits on the law would have profound impacts on coastal issues from fisheries management to marine protection to ocean dumping".
And while rising seas will have "profound impacts" around the world, Nasa earth science division director Michael Freilich said this year, those impacts will be acutely felt in the low-lying Pacific.
He added: "Rises in global average temperatures of [at least 4C by 2100] will have profound impacts on the world and the economies of many countries if we don't urgently start to curb our emissions".
Decisions on culpability and damages could be a year or more away, but they are likely to have profound impacts on environmental law and determine the viability of BP as a major oil company with global ambitions.
Whatever term you use, it's clear that the world is quickly being knitted by new ways to share observations and shape ideas that are bound to have profound impacts on the quality of the human journey.
It's Hoffman's view that a shift in the way we work will have profound impacts.
