11/20-11/22 (Anthropocene)

Question 1

What is the Anthropocene?

Answer 1

Proposed geological epoch by humans

Question 2

Define Anthropogenic

Answer 2

originating in human activity

Question 3

What were the various proposal dates for Anthropocene?

Answer 3

AG Revolution (12,000–15,000 years ago) / Atomic bomb testing (1950s) / 1st atomic bomb testing or WWII

Question 4

How will human activity be recognized in rock record?

Answer 4

pollution / species driven to extinction / Climate change by man / Shifting of magnetic north / Bioturbation?

Question 5

T or F? Microplastics are found everywhere?

Question 6

Why has the Anthropocene Epoch been rejected?

Answer 6

Humans have not been around enough to leave a mark /

Question 7

How much more is the current extinction rate to natural background rates?

Answer 7

100-1,000x

Question 8

Info on extinction rates of insects.

Answer 8

40% declining, 1/3 are endangered // Bees & Butterflies most affected / Mosquitos, cockroaches, ticks, fleas & other ‘pests’ are doing better

Question 9

When are insects(good ones) and elephants predicted to be extinct.

Answer 9

I - End of century / E - 2040

Question 10

Causes of Anthropocene Climate Change.

Answer 10

Burning fossil fuels / Reduction of rain forests / Expansion of Agriculture

Question 11

PETM stands for what?

Answer 11

Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Question 12

Info on PETM?

Answer 12

55.8 mya / period w/ more than 5–8 °C global avg temp rise across the event / occurred at time boundary of Paleocene and Eocene / How long it lasted is unknown

Question 13

What may of caused the PETM? (main one)

Answer 13

massive carbon release into atmosphere / The warm period lasted for about 200,000 years / massive carbon cuz of volcanic activity??

Question 14

Other things that may of caused PETM?

Answer 14

Asteroid / Mass Burning of peat (coals) / Milankovitch Cycles / methane clathrates)

Question 15

Info on Methane Clathrates

Answer 15

climate warms and ice melts, massive amounts of trapped methane can make their way into the atmosphere / BAM global warming

Question 16

So FINALLY what was PETM LIKELY caused by?

Answer 16

volcanism + mass release of methane clathrates

Question 17

Effects of PETM on ocean?

Answer 17

35-50% of benthic foraminifera died / Mammals thrived / major decline in reed building corals

Question 18

Terrestrial Effects of the PETM?

Answer 18

migration of modern Asian mammals to north / many major mammals spread around globe / 20% of pollen plants die

Question 19

Bighorn Basin Info?

Answer 19

Wyoming / Has rocks that contain fossil remains of
leaves from the PETM

Question 20

Why is knowing PETM important? Are CO2 levels rising faster now?

Answer 20

It will give us a better idea of what issues to expect with current global warming / Yes

Question 21

OVERALL effects of PETM

Answer 21

Ocean acidification / Sea level rise / Widespread drought/wildfires / Increase in sever tropical storms

Question 22

Is climate change avoidable?

Answer 22

Not rlly / prevention to mitigation