In geology, time is divided not by years but by geological or paleontological events based on information from the strata (layers of rock in the Earth). The categories of geological time are listed in order below:
Epochs mark distinct phases in the planet’s climatic and geological history. We are currently living in the Holocene Epoch which started after the last major ice age. Epochs can be distinctly identified by geologists if they can identify boundaries between layers of rock or emergence/disappearance of widespread species.
The Anthropocene is an unofficial epoch which spans the timeframe where human activity has significantly impacted both the planet’s climate and ecosystems. It is sometimes called an epoch because human activity has had a noticeable impact on the Earth’s ecosystems, climate and geology through actions including deforestation, burning fossil fuels and pollutant emissions. These activities can actually be seen in alterations in sediment formation and the chemical residues of radionuclides from nuclear testing. It can also be seen in our ecosystems through widespread displacement of species as well as mass extinctions and declining numbers worldwide.
As to when the Anthropocene began there are differing views. Some have suggested that it began with the Industrial Revolution in 1800s, when human activity started having a larger impact on the gasses in the atmosphere. Another suggestion is 1945 and the first use of the atomic bomb in Japan, after which the radioactive particles were found across the world. Others have proposed that it began in 1950 at the start of the “Great Acceleration”, which describes the accelerated population growth, release of greenhouse gases, technological advancement and energy use, among other trends.
The term Anthropocene can be used informally, however it is not currently recognized as a distinct epoch. To be labelled this, the impacts must be globally felt and profoundly impact the geological record. While human impact is undeniable some of the effects are ongoing and so as of yet may not be fully reflected in the geological record of the planet.
There are wider implications of labelling a new epoch, and one of the main ones is how it will impact our understanding of the planet’s geological history if human influence can be used as a defining feature. However, categorizing this period of our history as a distinct epoch could also illustrate the urgency of issues like climate change and pollution. It could help to inspire action and shape our environmental policies.
At Opwall we work in remote corners of the planet, but even there we feel the effect of human activity. In Mexico our terrestrial site is deep in the heart of the Calakmul Biosphere reserve. Here the wildlife is shielded from much direct conflict with people but the weather patterns we are observing are increasingly unpredictable due to climate change. This has resulted in several summers of drought, with wildlife recorded to be moving down towards Guatemala in search of water resources, followed by a summer of almost non-stop rain storms which few species are adapted to deal with. This climatic change is a result of human activity,.
Photo by Carlos Carias
Although we can feel the effects of human impacts, whether the timeframe will ever be officially classed as the Anthropocene remains uncertain for now.
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