What is Anthropocene Epoch and the controversy behind it?
By iastoppers.com
Despite evidence of human activity altering various Earth's landscapes, the Anthropocene Epoch is opposed under the geologic time scale
The geologic time scale (GTS) divides Earth's history into eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages, with each interval marked by significant geological events
The Anthropocene Epoch is an unofficial unit of geologic time, that describes the most recent period when human activity started impacting Earth’s climate and ecosystems
This Epoch follows Holocene Epoch (11,700 years ago to the present) and begin in the year 1950, as the “recent age of man”
The proposal for the Anthropocene suggests that human impact on the planet warrants recognition as a distinct epoch, separate from the current Holocene epoch
Events post-World War II "Great Acceleration" mark a significant shift in Earth's systems due to human activities like population growth and fossil fuel consumption
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) opposed it citing concerns on standards used to define epochs according to chronostratigraphy
Chronostratigraphic units are not uniform but depend on clear, and universally acceptable starting points through different intervals
This concept serves as a reminder of humanity's lasting impact on the planet and the responsibility future generations hold in shaping its geological record