The Anthropocene

Question 1

How are geological divisions defined?

Answer 1

By a specific boundary between layers of rock/ice

Question 2

What is stratigraphy?

Answer 2

The study of rocks and layers

Question 3

In which epoch are we now?

Answer 3

Holocene

Question 4

What is GSSP?

Answer 4

Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point

Question 5

How is GSSP sometimes called?

Answer 5

Golden Spike

Question 6

Does GSSP define the lower or higher boundary of a stage?

Answer 6

The lower boundary

Question 7

When did Holocene start?

Answer 7

At the end of the last Ice Age ( 12000 years ago)

Question 8

How’s the climate been in the Holocene?

Answer 8

Relatively stable

Question 9

Why is a stable climate good in the Holocene?

Answer 9

for the start of agriculture

Question 10

Where was the GSSP of Holocene marked?

Answer 10

In an ice layer

Question 11

What was the GSSP of Holocene based on?

Answer 11

Air bubbles in the ice core

Question 12

What is Anthropocene?

Answer 12

Next epoch after Holocene

Question 13

Who/what dominates the Anthropocene?

Answer 13

Humans

Question 14

When did the Anthropocene start?

Answer 14

Around 1950

Question 15

Who created the term Anthropocene?

Answer 15

Crutzen

Question 16

What is WGA?

Answer 16

Working Group on the Anthropocene

Question 17

What are geological epochs?

Answer 17

Geological time units accompanied by a global change

Question 18

How are geological epochs formally defined?

Answer 18

By a stratigraphic signal

Question 19

Does the stratigraphic signal need to be distinct from the previous one?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

What is the “Great Acceleration”?

Answer 20

The increased level of the consumption of resources

Question 21

Why did the Great Acceleration happen?

Answer 21

Population growth and industrialization

Question 22

What are the consequences of population growth and industrialization?

Answer 22

Higher level of consumption and increased level of economic activity

Question 23

What are the main driving forces of Anthropocene?

Answer 23

Human driving force

Question 24

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 24

Appearance of manufactured materials in the sediments/layers

Question 25

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 25

Modification of sedimentary processes

Question 26

What causes the modification of sedimentary processes?

Answer 26

Erosions

Question 27

What causes erosion?

Answer 27

Deforestation and constructions

Question 28

What causes the modification of sedimentary processes?

Answer 28

Mineral extraction

Question 29

What causes the modification of sedimentary processes?

Answer 29

Dams

Question 30

What is the consequence of building dams?

Answer 30

Interrupted sediment transport

Question 31

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 31

Changed geochemical signatures

Question 32

Which elements appear in a higher level in soils?

Answer 32

Nitrates and phosphorus

Question 33

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 33

Radiogenic signatures

Question 34

Why can radiogenic signatures be found in the sediment?

Answer 34

Use of nuclear weapons

Question 35

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 35

Change in the carbon cycle

Question 36

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 36

Climate change and sea level rise

Question 37

What are the evidences to support the formal recognition of the Anthropocene?

Answer 37

Biotic change

Question 38

What are the 2 factors of biotic change?

Answer 38

Extinction and species invasions

Question 39

What is the relevance of the discussion about the Anthropocene from a SD perspective?

Answer 39

Try to respect the PLANETARY BOUNDARIES and not fully exploit all the resources