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A stratigraphical basis for the Anthropocene?

Colin N. Waters, Jan A. Zalasiewicz, Mark Williams, Michael A. Ellis and Andrea M. Snelling
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 395, 24 March 2014, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP395.18
Colin N. Waters
Environmental Science Centre, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
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Jan A. Zalasiewicz
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UK
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Mark Williams
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UK
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Michael A. Ellis
Environmental Science Centre, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
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Andrea M. Snelling
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
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Abstract

Recognition of intimate feedback mechanisms linking changes across the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere demonstrates the pervasive nature of humankind's influence, perhaps to the point that we have fashioned a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. To what extent will these changes be evident as long-lasting signatures in the geological record?

To establish the Anthropocene as a formal chronostratigraphical unit it is necessary to consider a spectrum of indicators of anthropogenically induced environmental change, and to determine how these show as stratigraphic signals that can be used to characterize an Anthropocene unit and to recognize its base. It is important to consider these signals against a context of Holocene and earlier stratigraphic patterns. Here we review the parameters used by stratigraphers to identify chronostratigraphical units and how these could apply to the definition of the Anthropocene. The onset of the range of signatures is diachronous, although many show maximum signatures which post-date1945, leading to the suggestion that this date may be a suitable age for the start of the Anthropocene.

  • © The Geological Society of London 2014

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Geological Society, London, Special Publications: 473 (1)
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A stratigraphical basis for the Anthropocene?

Colin N. Waters, Jan A. Zalasiewicz, Mark Williams, Michael A. Ellis and Andrea M. Snelling
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 395, 24 March 2014, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP395.18
Colin N. Waters
Environmental Science Centre, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
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  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: cnw@bgs.ac.uk
Jan A. Zalasiewicz
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UK
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Mark Williams
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE 1 7RH, UK
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Michael A. Ellis
Environmental Science Centre, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
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Andrea M. Snelling
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
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A stratigraphical basis for the Anthropocene?

Colin N. Waters, Jan A. Zalasiewicz, Mark Williams, Michael A. Ellis and Andrea M. Snelling
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 395, 24 March 2014, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP395.18
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