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Geological Society, London, Special Publications
A Stratigraphical Basis for the Anthropocene
Editor(s)
J. A. Zalasiewicz;
J. A. Zalasiewicz
University of Leicester, UK
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A. M. Snelling
A. M. Snelling
British Geological Survey, UK
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Geological Society of London
Volume
395
Copyright:
Gold Open Access: This article is published under the terms of the CC-BY 3.0 license.
ISBN electronic:
9781862396715
ISBN print:
9781862396289
Publication date:
January 01, 2014
Humankind has pervasively influenced the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere, arguably to the point of fashioning a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. To constrain the Anthropocene as a potential formal unit within the Geological Time Scale, a spectrum of indicators of anthropogenically-induced environmental change is considered, and shown as stratigraphical signals that may be used to characterize an Anthropocene unit, and to recognize its base. This volume describes a range of evidence that may help to define this potential new time unit and details key signatures that could be used in its definition. These signatures include lithostratigraphical (novel deposits, minerals and mineral magnetism), biostratigraphical (macro- and micro-palaeontological successions and human-induced trace fossils) and chemostratigraphical (organic, inorganic and radiogenic signatures in deposits, speleothems and ice and volcanic eruptions). We include, finally, the suggestion that humans have created a further sphere, the technosphere, that drives global change.
A Stratigraphical Basis for the Anthropocene
Editor(s): C. N. Waters, J. A. Zalasiewicz, M. Williams, M. Ellis, A. M. Snelling
https://doi.org/10.1144/SP395
ISBN (print): 9781862396289
ISBN (electronic): 9781862396715
Publisher: Geological Society of London
Published: 2014
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Table of Contents
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An introduction to the Anthropocene: case for and against a new epoch
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A stratigraphical basis for the Anthropocene?Author(s)Colin N. Waters;Colin N. Waters1Environmental Science Centre, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Jan A. Zalasiewicz;Jan A. Zalasiewicz2Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Mark Williams;Mark Williams2Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Michael A. Ellis;Michael A. Ellis1Environmental Science Centre, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Andrea M. SnellingAndrea M. Snelling3NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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The term ‘Anthropocene’ in the context of formal geological classificationAuthor(s)P. L. Gibbard;P. L. Gibbard1Department of Geography, Cambridge Quaternary, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UKSearch for other works by this author on:M. J. C. WalkerM. J. C. Walker2School of Archaeology, History and Anthropology, Trinity Saint David, University of Wales, Lampeter SA48 7ED, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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Can an Anthropocene Series be defined and recognized?Author(s)Jan Zalasiewicz;Jan Zalasiewicz1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Mark Williams;Mark Williams1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Colin N. WatersColin N. Waters2British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5DP, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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The nature of anthropogenic deposits and landscape modification
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The mineral signature of the Anthropocene in its deep-time contextAuthor(s)Jan Zalasiewicz;Jan Zalasiewicz1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Ryszard Kryza;Ryszard Kryza2University of Wrocław, Institute of Geological Sciences, ul. Cybulskiego 30, 50-205 Wrocław, PolandSearch for other works by this author on:Mark WilliamsMark Williams1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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Geomagnetic and mineral magnetic characterization of the AnthropoceneAuthor(s)Ian Snowball;Ian Snowball1Department of Earth Sciences, Geophysics, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-753 26 Uppsala, SwedenSearch for other works by this author on:Mark W. Hounslow;Mark W. Hounslow2Centre for Environmental Magnetism and Palaeomagnetism, Lancaster Environment Centre, Farrer Avenue, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Andreas NilssonAndreas Nilsson3Geomagnetism Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Oliver Lodge Laboratories, Oxford Street, Liverpool L69 72E, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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A biostratigraphical signature for the Anthropocene
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Is the fossil record of complex animal behaviour a stratigraphical analogue for the Anthropocene?Author(s)M. Williams;M. Williams1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:J. A. Zalasiewicz;J. A. Zalasiewicz1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:C. N. Waters;C. N. Waters2British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:E. LandingE. Landing3New York State Museum, 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230, USASearch for other works by this author on:
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Microbiotic signatures of the Anthropocene in marginal marine and freshwater palaeoenvironmentsAuthor(s)I. P. Wilkinson;I. P. Wilkinson1British Geological Survey, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK2Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:C. Poirier;C. Poirier3Littoral Environnement Sociétés, Université de La Rochelle, CNRS, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, FranceSearch for other works by this author on:M. J. Head;M. J. Head4Department of Earth Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, CanadaSearch for other works by this author on:C. D. Sayer;C. D. Sayer5Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UKSearch for other works by this author on:J. TibbyJ. Tibby6Department of Geography, Environment and Population, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:
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Geochemical signatures and catastrophic events
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Assessing the Anthropocene with geochemical methodsAuthor(s)Agnieszka Gałuszka;Agnieszka Gałuszka1Geochemistry and the Environment Division, Institute of Chemistry, Jan Kochanowski University, 15G Świętokrzyska St, 25-406 Kielce, PolandSearch for other works by this author on:Zdzisław M. Migaszewski;Zdzisław M. Migaszewski1Geochemistry and the Environment Division, Institute of Chemistry, Jan Kochanowski University, 15G Świętokrzyska St, 25-406 Kielce, PolandSearch for other works by this author on:Jan ZalasiewiczJan Zalasiewicz2Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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Definition of the Anthropocene: a view from the underworldAuthor(s)Ian J. Fairchild;Ian J. Fairchild1School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham B15 2TT, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Silvia FrisiaSilvia Frisia2School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308 NSW, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:
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Ice Sheets and the AnthropoceneAuthor(s)Eric W. WolffEric W. Wolff1British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK (e-mail: [email protected])Search for other works by this author on:
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The release and persistence of radioactive anthropogenic nuclidesAuthor(s)Gary J. Hancock;Gary J. Hancock1CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Stephen G. Tims;Stephen G. Tims2Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:L. Keith Fifield;L. Keith Fifield2Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Ian T. WebsterIan T. Webster31 Scaddan Place, Curtin, ACT 2605, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:
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The technosphere concept
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