Jan Zalasiewicz, chair of the Anthropocene Working Group, said that while we are still technically in the Holocene, "in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene." (Photo: Friends of the Earth)
From Nuclear Debris to Dying Coral, Scientific Panel Votes to Recognize the Destructive Impact of the 'Anthropocene'
Most members of the Anthropocene Working Group believe the "age of man" began around the mid-twentieth century, when industrialization accelerated and nuclear weapons were used by the United States
In a step toward formally recognizing that humankind--with its incessant burning of fossil fuels, use of nuclear weapons, and more--has dramatically altered the state of planet Earth, a panel of prominent scientists voted last week to designate a new geological epoch titled the "Anthropocene."
The 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is expected to submit a proposal to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to officially recognize the Anthropocene--which means "age of man"--by 2021.
According to Nature's Meera Subramanian, 29 members of the AWG voted "in favor of starting the new epoch in the mid-twentieth century, when a rapidly rising human population accelerated the pace of industrial production, the use of agricultural chemicals, and other human activities."
"At the same time," Subramanian reported, "the first atomic-bomb blasts littered the globe with radioactive debris that became embedded in sediments and glacial ice, becoming part of the geologic record."
Last week's vote, which was over a decade in the making, was just the first step in the process of formally recognizing the Anthropocene epoch.
The AWG is now tasked with identifying a "golden spike," a geological marker that best identifies the dawn of the "age of man."
As Subramanian reported, the AWG
is considering ten candidate sites from around the globe, including a cave in northern Italy, corals in the Great Barrier Reef and a lake in China. Next week, many of the scientists involved will gather in Berlin to coordinate the next two years of research. They hope to identify a single site to include in their formal proposal. They must also define the type of physical evidence in the sedimentary record that represents the start of the epoch. The group is considering whether to choose the radionuclides that came from atomic-bomb detonations from 1945 until the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
Jan Zalasiewicz, geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, told Inverse that while we are still technically in the Holocene--an epoch which began around 12,000 years ago--"in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene."
"Getting an official designation of the Anthropocene would reflect this new reality," said Zalasiewicz, "and help us analyze it more effectively."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
In a step toward formally recognizing that humankind--with its incessant burning of fossil fuels, use of nuclear weapons, and more--has dramatically altered the state of planet Earth, a panel of prominent scientists voted last week to designate a new geological epoch titled the "Anthropocene."
The 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is expected to submit a proposal to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to officially recognize the Anthropocene--which means "age of man"--by 2021.
According to Nature's Meera Subramanian, 29 members of the AWG voted "in favor of starting the new epoch in the mid-twentieth century, when a rapidly rising human population accelerated the pace of industrial production, the use of agricultural chemicals, and other human activities."
"At the same time," Subramanian reported, "the first atomic-bomb blasts littered the globe with radioactive debris that became embedded in sediments and glacial ice, becoming part of the geologic record."
Last week's vote, which was over a decade in the making, was just the first step in the process of formally recognizing the Anthropocene epoch.
The AWG is now tasked with identifying a "golden spike," a geological marker that best identifies the dawn of the "age of man."
As Subramanian reported, the AWG
is considering ten candidate sites from around the globe, including a cave in northern Italy, corals in the Great Barrier Reef and a lake in China. Next week, many of the scientists involved will gather in Berlin to coordinate the next two years of research. They hope to identify a single site to include in their formal proposal. They must also define the type of physical evidence in the sedimentary record that represents the start of the epoch. The group is considering whether to choose the radionuclides that came from atomic-bomb detonations from 1945 until the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
Jan Zalasiewicz, geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, told Inverse that while we are still technically in the Holocene--an epoch which began around 12,000 years ago--"in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene."
"Getting an official designation of the Anthropocene would reflect this new reality," said Zalasiewicz, "and help us analyze it more effectively."
In a step toward formally recognizing that humankind--with its incessant burning of fossil fuels, use of nuclear weapons, and more--has dramatically altered the state of planet Earth, a panel of prominent scientists voted last week to designate a new geological epoch titled the "Anthropocene."
The 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is expected to submit a proposal to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to officially recognize the Anthropocene--which means "age of man"--by 2021.
According to Nature's Meera Subramanian, 29 members of the AWG voted "in favor of starting the new epoch in the mid-twentieth century, when a rapidly rising human population accelerated the pace of industrial production, the use of agricultural chemicals, and other human activities."
"At the same time," Subramanian reported, "the first atomic-bomb blasts littered the globe with radioactive debris that became embedded in sediments and glacial ice, becoming part of the geologic record."
Last week's vote, which was over a decade in the making, was just the first step in the process of formally recognizing the Anthropocene epoch.
The AWG is now tasked with identifying a "golden spike," a geological marker that best identifies the dawn of the "age of man."
As Subramanian reported, the AWG
is considering ten candidate sites from around the globe, including a cave in northern Italy, corals in the Great Barrier Reef and a lake in China. Next week, many of the scientists involved will gather in Berlin to coordinate the next two years of research. They hope to identify a single site to include in their formal proposal. They must also define the type of physical evidence in the sedimentary record that represents the start of the epoch. The group is considering whether to choose the radionuclides that came from atomic-bomb detonations from 1945 until the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
Jan Zalasiewicz, geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, told Inverse that while we are still technically in the Holocene--an epoch which began around 12,000 years ago--"in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene."
"Getting an official designation of the Anthropocene would reflect this new reality," said Zalasiewicz, "and help us analyze it more effectively."