The Working Group on the Anthropocene
- Autor(en)
- Jan Zalasiewicz, Colin N. Waters, Colin P. Summerhayes, Alexander P. Wolfe, Anthony D. Barnosky, Alejandro Cearreta, Paul Crutzen, Erle Ellis, Ian J. Fairchild, Agnieszka Gałuszka, Peter Haff, Irka Hajdas, Martin J. Head, Juliana A. Ivar do Sul, Catherine Jeandel, Reinhold Leinfelder, John R. McNeill, Cath Neal, Eric Odada, Naomi Oreskes, Will Steffen, James Syvitski, Davor Vidas, Michael Wagreich, Mark Williams
- Abstrakt
Since 2009, the Working Group on the ‘Anthropocene’ (or, commonly, AWG for Anthropocene Working Group), has been critically analysing the case for formalization of this proposed but still informal geological time unit. The study to date has mainly involved establishing the overall nature of the Anthropocene as a potential chronostratigraphic/geochronologic unit, and exploring the stratigraphic proxies, including several that are novel in geology, that might be applied to its characterization and definition. A preliminary summary of evidence and interim recommendations was presented by the Working Group at the 35th International Geological Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, in August 2016, together with results of voting by members of the AWG indicating the current balance of opinion on major questions surrounding the Anthropocene. The majority opinion within the AWG holds the Anthropocene to be stratigraphically real, and recommends formalization at epoch/series rank based on a mid-20th century boundary. Work is proceeding towards a formal proposal based upon selection of an appropriate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), as well as auxiliary stratotypes. Among the array of proxies that might be used as a primary marker, anthropogenic radionuclides associated with nuclear arms testing are the most promising; potential secondary markers include plastic, carbon isotope patterns and industrial fly ash. All these proxies have excellent global or near-global correlation potential in a wide variety of sedimentary bodies, both marine and non-marine.
- Organisation(en)
- Institut für Geologie
- Externe Organisation(en)
- University of Leicester, British Geological Survey, University of Alberta, Stanford University, University of the Basque Country, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie (Otto-Hahn-Institut), University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Birmingham, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Duke University, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Brock University, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Freie Universität Berlin (FU), Georgetown University, University of York, University of Nairobi, Harvard University, Australian National University, University of Colorado, Boulder, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, University of Cambridge
- Journal
- Anthropocene
- Band
- 19
- Seiten
- 55-60
- Anzahl der Seiten
- 6
- ISSN
- 2213-3054
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2017.09.001
- Publikationsdatum
- 09-2017
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ÖFOS 2012
- 105904 Umweltforschung, 105205 Klimawandel, 105123 Stratigraphie
- Schlagwörter
- ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Global and Planetary Change, Ecology, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 13 – Maßnahmen zum Klimaschutz, SDG 14 – Leben unter Wasser
- Link zum Portal
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/23891410-3445-4c37-9262-5cb8d9c10a5b