Geologists from the University of Leicester -including a Nobel prize-winner- suggest that the Earth has entered a new age of geological time. They’ve called it the Anthropocene Epoch (New Man Epoch). The paper has been published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal (link). They add that the dawning of this new epoch may include the sixth largest mass extinction in the Earth’s history.
The largest defined unit of time is the supereon, composed of eons. Eons are divided into eras, which are in turn divided into periods, epochs and ages. For example, we are living in the Cenozoic era, Quaternary period, Holocene epoch. Human civilization dates entirely within the Holocene, which began 12,000 years ago (give or take).
These scientists say that recent human activity, such as explosive population growth, burgeoning mega-cities and deep climate and environmental changes have changed the planet to such an extent that we are entering a new epoch.
Wether this new term will be accepted by the scientific community is yet to be seen. But the scientists conclude that, “However these debates will unfold, the Anthropocene represents a new phase in the history of both humankind and of the Earth, when natural forces and human forces became intertwined, so that the fate of one determines the fate of the other. Geologically, this is a remarkable episode in the history of this planet.”
So far it’s been easy to date and label geological times from our vantage point (being in the “future”). How accurate are our measurements taken from here and now, considering that it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to predict large scale consequences of our actions into the future? Take Climate Change for instance. We are still arguing if it’s a man-made process, a natural phenomenon or a product of some people’s imagination. As of now, labeling geological times has been an objective process (that rests on our perspective). If we are to inaugurate a new epoch, perspective is not going to be an option, so expect a lot of debate.
Image credit, NASA
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Article by Fernando
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