23 February 2011
Welcome to the Anthropocene
Now, many scientists insist that recent human activity, beginning about 250 years ago, is having such a significant environmental impact on the Earth’s climate, geography, and biological composition that we have actually entered into a new period of geologic time. That means this change to the “age of man” — or the “Anthropocene” epoch — could be distinctly recognizable when future geologists sift through tiered cakes of rock thousands of years from now.
Nobel prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen brought the idea of the Anthropocene into the scientific spotlight in 2002 (Crutzen is famous for having studied atmospheric chemistry relating to the hole in the ozone layer), but it is not yet an accepted term in geology vernacular. However, in the March 2011 issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, a group of researchers are attempting to make the case that the profound human-driven impacts on the planet in recent years fit the criteria for a new geological distinction.
In this month’s issue of National Geographic magazine, journalist Elizabeth Kolbert writes about the Anthropocene, and she points out that it is surprising which kinds of human behavior are expected to have the longest-lasting impacts (from a geologic perspective, at least). The skyscrapers, the highways, and the suburban sprawl?
None of these are likely to leave as indelible a mark as the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is causing global climate change, sea level rise, and ocean acidification. And though deforestation is rapidly transforming vast swaths of the planet’s landscape today, Kolbert points out that the most serious and noticeable consequence of this in the future could be a mass extinction event caused by the clear-cut. It may be thousands of years before our particular era can be truly verified as a new epoch, but scientists say the measurable transformations that are happening now are so rapid and distinct they make this time a good candidate for a name change. And if nothing else, some say that adopting the Anthropocene name will raise awareness of the fact that humans are having enduring affect on the planet.
If you can’t fathom parsing through the 13 peer-reviewed journal articles in Philosophical Transcations A, Kolbert’s take on the Anthropocene is certainly a worthwhile read.
Climate Central
Comments (4)
Cassie
Mugappa
Why can things be made in AMERICA once again, is it because is convenient for WALMART and IKEA and the JOHNSON FAMILY PRODUCTS and all the big conglomerates?
But this behavior is putting us at the risk of not having a planet with the right climate conditions for us as a race to exist and live here for very much longer
WE NEED TO STOP PEOPLE AND STOP NOW!!!!!
James Wilson
I do not know about you but I am in fear of my life. Not from terrorist, not from war-mongers, not from thevies or murders, but from the idiot policy makers that are a sleep at the wheel. Can they not see that the more they drag fheir feet the sooner there will be no world for us to live on or in. With the recent events happening today, with Japan, China, New Zealand, Haiti, Libya, a tourist bus being hit and turned on its side and 13 people killed, WHAT is this away to stop the population explosion. What about AIDS, Cancer, we are at risk of something coming from somewhere. We as a people will never know what hit us we are walking through live with blinders on and will be broadsided and will never know what hit us.I think, and this is just my opinion, that we should do as the people in Europe do and take to the streets and I mean everyone, take to the streets and start a new revolution, an energy revolution, all of us each and everyone of us should stop working, living, playing, laughing, sleeping, walking and driving and take to the streets. They so this in Europe and more often than not they get their point across and changes things. They are no different that us they are human beings just like us. TAKE a stand do more than this, I do not know what but it is time for the entire human race to do something be for it is too late and we have no Earth, clean air, clean water, clean soil for growing food, and NO FOOD!
Like I stated ealier, this is just my opinion, but I think I want to live a little longer with clean air, water, soil, and food.
James Wilson
Ahmed
Can they not see that the more they drag fheir feet the sooner there will be no world for us to live on or in. With the recent events happening today, with Japan, China, New Zealand, Haiti, Libya, a tourist bus being hit and turned on its side and 13 people killed, WHAT is this away to stop the population explosion.
What about AIDS, Cancer, we are at risk of something coming from somewhere. We as a people will never know what hit us we are walking through live with blinders on and will be broadsided and will never know what hit us. I think, and this is just my opinion, that we should do as the people in Europe do and take to the streets and I mean everyone, take to the streets and start a new revolution, an energy revolution, all of us each and everyone of us should stop working, living, playing, laughing, sleeping, walking and driving and take to the streets.
They so this in Europe and more often than not they get their point across and changes things. They are no different that us they are human beings just like us.
TAKE a stand do more than this, I do not know what but it is time for the entire human race to do something be for it is too late and we have no Earth, clean air, clean water, clean soil for growing food, and NO FOOD!
Like I stated ealier, this is just my opinion, but I think I want to live a little longer with clean air, water, soil, and food.
James Wilson