TellUs: Has Human Activity Changed Our Earth Forever?

Anthropocene - A New Geological Time?

Has the environmental impact from human beings propelled the Earth into a new geological time? The term ‘Anthropocene’ was first proposed as a new division of geological time by scientists Prof. Paul Crutzen and Prof. Eugene Stoermer back in the year 2000. However although this suggestion has not yet formally been adopted, the term is widely used by scientists and is considered to be either within or after the current Holocene epoch. The media has also adopted this concept, referring to it commonly as the ‘Age of Man’, or the more appropriate translation of ‘Age of Humans’ - so this expression may already be familiar to you. 

There is no doubt that human activity has impacted the environment for hundreds of thousands of years, since we first appeared even. Although for a new division of deep time to be determined there must be geological evidence of this human impact. This evidence would be found in sediments or in polar ice, that would have to differ from the current deep time. 

So, say the Anthropocene is happening, when did this all begin? This is a difficult question and understandably is debated amongst scientists to this day. Some argue it could be around 3000-8000 years ago, with the global spread of population and widespread farming. Other scientists including Crutzen, suggests the Anthropocene should start in the late 18th century, coinciding with the Industrial Revolution and the burning of fossil fuels. Others believe it should start as late as the mid-20th century. 

Leading on from this I thought I’d provide an example of scientists proposing a case for the Anthropocene and all the evidence they need to gather and provide. So in 2016 a group of scientists led by Prof. Colin Waters made a case for the Anthropocene in the publication, Science. They presented evidence from a range of geological sources including: minerals, rock types, sediment flux and erosion, atmospheric readings and polar ice analysis, to make a case that the Anthropocene started around 1950. This evidence formed the basis of their recommendation, that the Anthropocene be formally adopted at the 2016 International Geological Congress in South Africa. According to Waters and his team, a key defining indicator of the Anthropocene in geological terms is the presence of isotopes from nuclear weapons testing, that took place in the 1950/60s. Other indicators such as carbon emissions, plastic waste and soil pollutions also came into consideration. 

Prof. Colin Waters & his teams Science publication

Who is responsible for making this decision? It is in fact The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) decision. The scientific body responsible for geological time scale and so it is their decision on whether or not to formally adopt the Anthropocene. Waters states that if it is adopted then “not only would this represent the first instance of a new epoch having been witnessed firsthand by advanced human societies, it would be one stemming from the consequences of their own doing.”

So what do you think? Do you think the Anthropocene should even be considered as being a new geological time? If so when do you think this time should start? I hope you enjoyed this blog and make sure you subscribe to be notified when I upload - I’d really appreciate it!

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