Anthropocene
Era we caused
The Anthropocene is a proposed geological epoch defined by human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems—climate change, mass extinctions, plastic deposits, and radioactive fallout from nuclear testing.
The term frames humanity as a geological force.
Scientists debate its official status and start date, with candidates ranging from the agricultural revolution to the mid-twentieth century.
We are living in the Anthropocene.
Last 2.6 million years
- CenozoicPresent geological era
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- interglacialEpoch between major freezes
Complete vanishing of a species
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- overfishingUnsustainable marine harvest
- microplasticsSub-5mm synthetic environmental particles
Increasing in temperature
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
temperature · atmosphere · permafrost · drought · flooding · paleoclimate
Study of rock layers
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- geomorphologyStudy of terrain formation
- radionuclidesAtoms with unstable nuclei
- concreteSolid building mixture
Advanced organized human society
- urbanizationPopulation shift toward cities
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
land-use · megacities · socio-ecological · stewardship · sustainability
Quaternary
Last 2.6 million years
- CenozoicPresent geological era
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
interglacial · paleoclimatology · periodization · time-scale
extinction
Complete vanishing of a species
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- overfishingUnsustainable marine harvest
warming
Increasing in temperature
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
methane · temperature · atmosphere · permafrost · drought · flooding · paleoclimate
stratigraphy
Study of rock layers
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- geomorphologyStudy of terrain formation
- radionuclidesAtoms with unstable nuclei
civilization
Advanced organized human society
- urbanizationPopulation shift toward cities
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
industrialization · land-use · megacities · socio-ecological · stewardship · sustainability
- erasera, epoch, age, bronze age, period
- geologic timeeons, eon, epochs, era, epoch
- CenozoicPaleocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Quaternary, Paleogene
- ecocriticismnature writing, pastoral, nature poetry, ecofeminism, eco-feminism
- climateclimate change, climate, weather, global warming, temperature
- Oil Agepetroleum, crude oil, gasoline, diesel, fossil fuels
AnthropoceneHolocene
Current geological epoch
Pleistocene · Precambrian · Archean · Proterozoic · Paleozoic