articlePhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering SciencesJan 31, 2011BRONZE OA

The Anthropocene: a new epoch of geological time?

JZJan ZalasiewiczMWMark WilliamsAMAlan M. HaywoodMAMichael A. Ellis

University of Leicester · British Geological Survey · +1 more institution

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Abstract

Anthropogenic changes to the Earth's climate, land, oceans and biosphere are now so great and so rapid that the concept of a new geological epoch defined by the action of humans, the Anthropocene, is widely and seriously debated. Questions of the scale, magnitude and significance of this environmental change, particularly in the context of the Earth's geological history, provide the basis for this Theme Issue. The Anthropocene, on current evidence, seems to show global change consistent with the suggestion that an epoch-scale boundary has been crossed within the last two centuries.

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Anthropocene
  • Epoch (astronomy)
  • Biosphere
  • Context (archaeology)
  • Earth system science
  • Climate change
  • Earth science
  • Scale (ratio)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Life below water
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