Scientists recently proposed to formalise an ‘Anthropocene Epoch’ on the geologic time scale, triggering several debates.
The earth’s geological history is divided into multiple epochs depending on their natural character. We are officially currently in the Holocene Epoch, which started around 11,700 years ago. But many scientists believe the Holocene Epoch has ended and the Anthropocene Epoch has started – a period of time characterised by humankind’s large-scale effects on the earth, including climate change and pollution.
The proposal – to make the Anthropocene Epoch official – came from the Anthropocene Working Group of the Sub-commission of Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS-AWG). In the proposal, the group has said the start date of the Epoch can be linked to the formation of a particular layer of the ground. As the earth’s surface evolves, new layers of rock, soil, and other materials are deposited on old ones. Each layer, or stratum, is thus a marker of a previous era.
