The Anthropocene Flashcards
Section III of the Social Science USAD Resource Guide terms and definitions
What two Greek words does Anthropocene derive from?
Anthropos (human) and kainos (new)
Which scholars first coined the term “Anthropocene”?
Paul J. Crutzen and Eugene F. Stoermer
When was the term “Anthropocene” coined?
2000
When did Crutzen and Stoermer determine the starting date of the Anthropocene to be?
At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution during the late eighteenth century
When did the Anthropocene Working Group determine the starting date of the Anthropocene to be?
At the onset of the Great Acceleration in 1950
Which groups do the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) act under the guidance of?
The Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) and the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
This group defines the Anthropocene as “a proposed new geological epoch resulting from significant human-driven changes to the structure and functioning of the Earth System, including the climate system”
Charles Dickens
This British writer popularized a negative image of the Industrial Revolution through works like A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist
When was the term “Industrial Revolution” first used?
The 1800s
Great Acceleration
Due to an increase in human population, the scale of human activities that altered the Earth System began to greatly increase during this period
Who coined the phrase “Great Acceleration”?
J.R. McNeill
What was the human population in 1780?
Less than a billion
What was the human population in 1930?
2 billion
How thick is the troposphere?
7 miles
Eunice Newton Foote
American scientist who, as early as the mid-nineteenth century, argued that atmospheric water vapor and carbon dioxide could interact with solar rays to raise the Earth’s temperature
Which country was the top producer and top consumer of oil in the early 2020s?
United States
When was oil discovered in Kirkuk, Iraq?
1927
What percentage of total greenhouse gas emissions do fossil fuels comprise?
75%
What percentage of total fossil fuel emissions does carbon dioxide comprise?
90%
What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States did methane and nitrous oxide contribute to in 2020?
Less than 20%
What percentage of greenhouse gas emission in the United States did fossil fuels contribute to in 2020?
Over 72%
In descending order, which nations are currently the top 4 leading emitters of greenhouse gases?
China, US, EU, India
How much carbon dioxide does China emit per person compared to the United States?
Half
How much carbon dioxide does India emit per person compared to the United States?
One-seventh
What percentage of the cumulative amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by Western nations since 1750 has China produced?
25%
What are the 3 components of the triple planetary crisis?
Climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss
In the summer of 2023, the heat index in Iran reached …?
158 F
Where have abnormally severe fires ravaged in the past few years?
Greece, Australia, California, Canada, and Hawaii
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), how much has high-tide flooding increased?
300% to more than 900% since the 1970s
When did Hurricane Ian strike Florida?
2022
Hurricane Ian
This natural disaster caused 156 fatalities and resulted in $112 billion in damages
By 2022, a megadrought in the Western United States was the worst drought since …?
1200 years ago
How much more likely is the Horn of Africa to experience drought?
100x
What were the 5 insights related to climate-induced health risks identified in a 2017 United Nations report?
Certain groups are more susceptible, infectious diseases are sensitive, the transmission season is lengthened, emerging health issues, and malnutrition
How many are annually estimated to move their homes due to extreme weather events in the United States?
30 million
