Defining the Anthropocene

被引:1763
作者
Lewis, Simon L. [1 ,2 ]
Maslin, Mark A. [1 ]
机构
[1] UCL, Dept Geog, London WC1E 6BT, England
[2] Univ Leeds, Sch Geog, Leeds LS2 9JT, W Yorkshire, England
基金
欧洲研究理事会;
关键词
TROPICAL SECONDARY FORESTS; GLOBAL CARBON-CYCLE; ATMOSPHERIC CO2; ICE-CORE; HUMAN IMPACT; CLIMATE; METHANE; FIRE; EVOLUTION; VARIABILITY;
D O I
10.1038/nature14258
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Time is divided by geologists according to marked shifts in Earth's state. Recent global environmental changes suggest that Earth may have entered a new human-dominated geological epoch, the Anthropocene. Here we review the historical genesis of the idea and assess anthropogenic signatures in the geological record against the formal requirements for the recognition of a new epoch. The evidence suggests that of the various proposed dates two do appear to conform to the criteria to mark the beginning of the Anthropocene: 1610 and 1964. The formal establishment of an Anthropocene Epoch would mark a fundamental change in the relationship between humans and the Earth system.
引用
收藏
页码:171 / 180
页数:10
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