postHolocene

The term "postHolocene" refers to a hypothetical future geological epoch that would succeed the Holocene epoch. The Holocene began approximately 11,700 years ago, marking the end of the last glacial period and the beginning of the current interglacial period. The concept of a postHolocene epoch is not officially recognized by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the body responsible for defining geological time scales.

Discussions about a postHolocene often revolve around the significant and accelerating impact of human activities on Earth's systems, leading to the proposal of a new epoch known as the Anthropocene. If the Anthropocene is formally recognized, it would represent a period within or following the Holocene, characterized by human dominance over geological and ecological processes. Some interpretations suggest the postHolocene would begin after the Anthropocene, or that the Anthropocene itself represents the transition out of the Holocene and into a new, human-influenced future.

The exact starting point and characteristics of any future geological epoch are subjects of ongoing scientific debate and research. Factors such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and widespread environmental modification are considered key indicators of a potential shift from the Holocene. The concept of a postHolocene, therefore, is intrinsically linked to understanding the long-term consequences of current global environmental trends.