Epochs, events and episodes: Marking the geological impact of humans

Event stratigraphy is used to help characterise the Anthropocene as a chronostratigraphic concept, based on analogous deep-time events, for which we provide a novel categorization. Events in stratigraphy are distinct from extensive, time-transgressive ‘episodes’ – such as the global, highly diachron...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Waters, Colin N., Williams, Mark, Zalasiewicz, Jan, Turner, Simon D., Barnosky, Anthony D., Head, Martin J., Wing, Scott L., Wagreich, Michael, Steffen, Will, Summerhayes, Colin P., Cundy, Andrew B., Zinke, Jens, Fialkiewicz-Koziel, Barbara, Leinfelder, Reinhold, Haff, Peter K., McNeill, J. R., Rose, Neil L., Hajdas, Irka, McCarthy, Francine M.G., Cearreta Bilbao, Alejandro, Galuszka, Agnieszka, Syvitski, Jaia, Han, Yongming, An, Zhisheng, Fairchild, Ian J., Ivar do Sul, Juliana A., Jeandel, Catherine
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/59727
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/59727
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Anthropocene
anthropogenic modification episode
chronostratigraphy
Great Acceleration Event Array
Descripción
Sumario:Event stratigraphy is used to help characterise the Anthropocene as a chronostratigraphic concept, based on analogous deep-time events, for which we provide a novel categorization. Events in stratigraphy are distinct from extensive, time-transgressive ‘episodes’ – such as the global, highly diachronous record of anthropogenic change, termed here an Anthropogenic Modification Episode (AME). Nested within the AME are many geologically correlatable events, the most notable being those of the Great Acceleration Event Array (GAEA). This isochronous array of anthropogenic signals represents brief, unique events evident in geological deposits, e.g.: onset of the radionuclide ‘bomb-spike’; appearance of novel organic chemicals and fuel ash particles; marked changes in patterns of sedimentary deposition, heavy metal contents and carbon/nitrogen isotopic ratios; and ecosystem changes leaving a global fossil record; all around the mid-20th century. The GAEA reflects a fundamental transition of the Earth System to a new state in which many parameters now lie beyond the range of Holocene variability. Globally near-instantaneous events can provide robust primary guides for chronostratigraphic boundaries. Given the intensity, magnitude, planetary significance and global isochroneity of the GAEA, it provides a suitable level for recognition of the base of the Anthropocene as a series/epoch.

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