Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 1(1)

Published: Oct. 16, 2020

Abstract Growth in fundamental drivers—energy use, economic productivity and population—can provide quantitative indications of the proposed boundary between Holocene Epoch Anthropocene. Human energy expenditure Anthropocene, ~22 zetajoules (ZJ), exceeds that across prior 11,700 years (~14.6 ZJ), largely through combustion fossil fuels. The global warming effect during Anthropocene is more than an order magnitude greater still. Global human population, their consumption, most changes impacting environment, are highly correlated. This extraordinary outburst consumption demonstrates how Earth System has departed from its state since ~1950 CE, forcing abrupt physical, chemical biological to Earth’s stratigraphic record can be used justify proposal for naming a new epoch—the

Language: Английский

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Subdividing the Holocene Series/Epoch: formalization of stages/ages and subseries/subepochs, and designation of GSSPs and auxiliary stratotypes

Journal of Quaternary Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 34(3), P. 173 - 186

Published: April 1, 2019

ABSTRACT The Holocene, which currently spans ~11 700 years, is the shortest series/epoch within geological time scale (GTS), yet it contains a rich archive of evidence in stratigraphical contexts that are frequently continuous and often preserved at high levels resolution. On 14 June 2018, Executive Committee International Union Geological Sciences formally ratified proposal to subdivide Holocene into three stages/ages, along with their equivalent subseries/subepochs, each anchored by Global boundary Stratotype Section Point (GSSP). new stages Greenlandian (Lower/Early Subseries/Subepoch) its GSSP Greenland NGRIP2 ice core dated 11 b2k (before 2000 CE); Northgrippian (Middle NGRIP1 8236 b2k; Meghalayan (Upper/Late speleothem from Mawmluh Cave, north‐eastern India, date 4250 b2k. We explain nomenclature divisions, describe procedures involved ratification process, designate auxiliary stratotypes support GSSPs consider implications subdivision for defining Anthropocene as unit GTS.

Language: Английский

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The Anthropocene as a Geological Time Unit

Cambridge University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 26, 2019

The Anthropocene, a term launched into public debate by Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen, has been used informally to describe the time period during which human actions have had drastic effect on Earth and its ecosystems. This book presents evidence for defining Anthropocene as geological epoch, written high-profile international team analysing potential addition scale. ranges from chemical signals arising pollution, landscape changes associated with urbanisation, biological species invasion extinctions. Global environmental change is placed within context of planetary processes deep time, allowing reader appreciate scale human-driven compare global transition taking place today major transitions in history. an authoritative review graduate students academic researchers across scientific, social science humanities disciplines.

Language: Английский

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Soil erosion and sediment dynamics in the Anthropocene: a review of human impacts during a period of rapid global environmental change

Journal of Soils and Sediments, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 20(12), P. 4115 - 4143

Published: Nov. 4, 2020

Abstract Purpose Humanity has been modifying the planet in a measurable way for thousands of years. Recently, this influence such that some feel we are new geological epoch, Anthropocene. This review will describe how soil erosion and sediment dynamics have (i) used to assess impact humans on (ii) affected global climate influenced water security. Emphasis is placed changes since middle twentieth century, as coincides with what many suggest start Anthropocene Epoch. Results discussion The use archives instrumental our understanding environmental systems developed over time, both naturally response anthropogenic activities. Additional information come from measurement monitoring programs, tracing fingerprinting studies. In turn, models enable forecasting. Some main impacts enhanced composition include: radiative energy balances cryosphere; carbon cycle; greenhouse gas emissions. Impacts security effects freshwater biota, including wild salmon populations; fluxes contaminants, microplastics; reservoir river channel sedimentation, flooding. Sediment programs also document effect mitigation measures policies. Conclusion us assemble variety timescales (i.e., 10 0 5 years longer) range spatial scales (from sub-watershed continental), addition environments ranging arid tropical polar. Often temporal resolution better than other paleoenvironmental reconstruction approaches. As such, sedimentary records, when combined approaches sources information, enabled determine atmospheric, terrestrial, aquatic systems, especially last 100 While provided wealth greatly role humanity planet, suggestions given further research.

Language: Английский

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The Anthropocene: Comparing Its Meaning in Geology (Chronostratigraphy) with Conceptual Approaches Arising in Other Disciplines

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9(3)

Published: Feb. 11, 2021

Abstract The term Anthropocene initially emerged from the Earth System science community in early 2000s, denoting a concept that Holocene Epoch has terminated as consequence of human activities. First associated with onset Industrial Revolution, it was then more closely linked Great Acceleration industrialization and globalization 1950s fundamentally modified physical, chemical, biological signals geological archives. Since 2009, been evaluated by Working Group, tasked examining for potential inclusion Geological Time Scale. Such requires precisely defined chronostratigraphic geochronological unit globally synchronous base inception, mid‐twentieth century being geologically optimal. This reflects an state which activities have become predominant drivers modifications to stratigraphic record, making clearly distinct Holocene. However, recently, also used different conceptual interpretations diverse scholarly fields, including environmental social sciences humanities. These are often flexibly interpreted, commonly without reference diachronous time; they extend much further back time than century. broader conceptualizations encompass wide ranges levels impacts interactions environment. Here, we clarify what is terms compare proposed (chronostratigraphic) definition some these applications “Anthropocene,” showing both their overlaps differences.

Language: Английский

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The Anthropocene as an Event, not an Epoch

Journal of Quaternary Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(3), P. 395 - 399

Published: March 9, 2022

ABSTRACT Over the course of last decade concept Anthropocene has become widely established within and beyond geoscientific literature but its boundaries remain undefined. Formal definition as a chronostratigraphical series geochronological epoch following Holocene, at fixed horizon with precise global start date, been proposed, fails to account for diachronic nature human impacts on environmental systems during late Quaternary. By contrast, defining an ongoing geological event more closely reflects reality both historical human–environment interactions, encapsulating spatial temporal heterogeneity, well diverse social processes that characterize anthropogenic changes. Thus, Event incorporates substantially wider range cultural effects, while same time applying readily in different academic contexts than would be case rigidly defined Series/Epoch.

Language: Английский

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Defining the onset of the Anthropocene

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 378(6621), P. 706 - 708

Published: Nov. 17, 2022

Twelve sites are considered for defining the Anthropocene geological epoch.

Language: Английский

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Abrupt ecological shifts of lakes during the Anthropocene

Earth-Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 227, P. 103981 - 103981

Published: March 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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Candidate sites and other reference sections for the Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point of the Anthropocene series

The Anthropocene Review, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(1), P. 3 - 24

Published: Feb. 7, 2023

We review and compare proposals for 12 reference sections submitted to the Anthropocene Working Group of International Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, which one will be recommended as Global boundary Stratotype Section Point (GSSP) define base a series within Geological Time Scale. The sites span five continents are located in diverse environments, with all but sampled by coring. Many show annually resolved laminae (here considered optimal GSSP selection) that can independently dated radiometrically confirm complete succession over critical interval. An extensive range proxies, documenting profound human modification Earth System at around mid-20th century interval, has been analysed. Airborne signals (e.g. radioisotopes, fly ash, stable carbon nitrogen isotopes) provide most widespread near-isochronous applicable across environments. Additional means correlation include appearance microplastics persistent organic pollutants, shifts heavy metal concentrations lead isotope ratios. Assemblage changes microfossils (and some macrofossils) marine, estuarine lake settings reflect environmental biological introductions. These systematic comprehensive datasets, established between sections, basis proposal formalize Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Downward migrating microplastics in lake sediments are a tricky indicator for the onset of the Anthropocene

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(8)

Published: Feb. 21, 2024

Plastics are a recent particulate material in Earth’s history. Because of plastics persistence and wide-range presence, it has great potential being global age marker correlation tool between sedimentary profiles. In this research, we query whether microplastics can be considered among the array proxies to delimit Anthropocene Epoch (starting from year 1950 above). We present study deposition history inferred sediment profiles lakes northeastern Europe. The sediments were dated with independent back first half 18th century. Regardless layer age, microplastic particles found throughout cores all sites. Depending on particles’ aspect ratio, less elongated deeper, while more fibers have reduced mobility. conclude that interpretation distribution studied is ambiguous does not strictly indicate beginning Epoch.

Language: Английский

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