anthropocene

Anthropocene is a proposed geological epoch that marks the period during which human activity has become the dominant influence on climate and the environment. The term combines the Greek word anthropos, meaning “human,” with –cene, a suffix used for epochs in the geological timescale. Although not yet formally ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the concept has gained widespread use in scientific literature and public discourse.

The idea emerged in the early 2000s, principally through the work of atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen and biologist Eugene Stoermer, who argued that the scale and speed of anthropogenic changes—such as greenhouse‑gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and widespread landscape alteration—warranted a distinct stratigraphic marker. Various proposed starting points include the mid‑19th century Industrial Revolution, the first nuclear weapons tests in 1945, and the Great Acceleration of the 1950s and 1960s, when many environmental indicators began to rise sharply.

Evidence for the Anthropocene is drawn from multiple stratigraphic disciplines. Sediment cores contain elevated levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and synthetic compounds such as plastics and polychlorinated biphenyls. Ice cores record unprecedented temperature spikes and radionuclide signatures from nuclear testing. Fossil records show rapid species extinctions and the spread of invasive species. These markers collectively constitute a “technofossil” layer that could be identified in future geological records.

Debate continues over the formal definition, particularly regarding the precise temporal boundary and the criteria required for an epoch designation. Proponents argue that recognizing the Anthropocene emphasizes humanity’s responsibility for planetary stewardship, while critics caution against premature formalization. Regardless of its eventual status, the term has reshaped interdisciplinary dialogue about humanity’s impact on Earth’s systems.