Journal Article

The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene

Ellis, Michael, Jeandel, Catherine, Oreskes, Naomi, Syvitski, James, deB. Richter, Daniel, Summerhayes, Colin, Cearreta, Alejandro, McNeill, J. R., Ellis, Erle C., Grinevald, Jacques, Galuszka, Agnieszka, Barnosky, Anthony D., Poirier, Clément, Wagreich, Michael, Leinfelder, Reinhold, Williams, Mark, Zhisheng, An, Steffen, Will, Zalasiewicz, Jan, Wolfe, Alexander P., Waters, Colin N., Edgeworth, Matt, Odada, Eric, Vidas, Davor

2016

Overview

Humans are undoubtedly altering many geological processes on Earth—and have been for some time. But what is the stratigraphic evidence for officially distinguishing this new human-dominated time period, termed the “Anthropocene,” from the preceding Holocene epoch? Waters et al. review climatic, biological, and geochemical signatures of human activity in sediments and ice cores. Combined with deposits of new materials and radionuclides, as well as human-caused modification of sedimentary processes, the Anthropocene stands alone stratigraphically as a new epoch beginning sometime in the mid–20th century. Science , this issue p. 10.1126/science.aad2622 Human activity is leaving a pervasive and persistent signature on Earth. Vigorous debate continues about whether this warrants recognition as a new geologic time unit known as the Anthropocene. We review anthropogenic markers of functional changes in the Earth system through the stratigraphic record. The appearance of manufactured materials in sediments, including aluminum, plastics, and concrete, coincides with global spikes in fallout radionuclides and particulates from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles have been substantially modified over the past century. Rates of sea-level rise and the extent of human perturbation of the climate system exceed Late Holocene changes. Biotic changes include species invasions worldwide and accelerating rates of extinction. These combined signals render the Anthropocene stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene and earlier epochs.

• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science,The American Association for the Advancement of Science,American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Subject: Acceleration (Education) / Aluminum / Aluminum - analysis / Anthropocene / Anthropogenic factors / Biota / Black carbon / Carbon Cycle / Carbon dioxide / Climate / Climate change / Climate system / Combustion / Concrete / Construction Materials - analysis / Deforestation / Earth / Earth (Planet) / Environmental Sciences / Farm buildings / Fossil fuels / Fossil Fuels - adverse effects / Gasoline / Geologic Sediments - chemistry / Global Changes / Global warming / Greenhouse gases / Human Activities / Humans / Ice / Ice - analysis / Introduced Species / Invasions / Invasive species / Nitrogen / PCB / Pesticides / Plastics / Plastics - analysis / Polychlorinated biphenyls / Radioactive Fallout - analysis / Radioisotopes - analysis / REVIEW SUMMARY / Sediments / Species extinction