Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Current Affairs,Issue: Terms in news
Context– Recently a committee of 18 scientists have voted down a proposal to declare the start of the Anthropocene, or the “Human Epoch”
- Geoscientists utilize the geologic time scale (GTS) to chronicle Earth’s history.
- GTS categorizes time into aeons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages based on chronostratigraphic classification.
- Each interval of Earth time necessitates a clear starting point.
- Coined in 2000, the Anthropocene signifies a new epoch dominated by human influence.( by Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer)
- There is skepticism about the permanency of the Anthropocene boundary.
- Some scientists propose viewing the Anthropocene as an “event” rather than a new epoch.
- Despite the rejection, evidence of human impact on the planet persists, prompting ongoing consideration of the Anthropocene’s significance.
| Prelims Connect:
· Currently, we are in the Phanerozoic aeon, Cenozoic era, Quaternary period, Holocene epoch, and Meghalayan age. · Anthropocene is based on a period called as “Great Acceleration,” · “Great Acceleration” saw a surge in population, fossil fuel consumption, nuclear testing fallout, widespread use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and the proliferation of plastics. |
