The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene

2016/01/07 by Colin N. Waters, Jan Zalasiewicz, Colin Summerhayes +21 · 20 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Ecosystem dynamics and resilience #Isotope Analysis in Ecology

paper · doi:10.1126/science.aad2622

openalex publication_date 2016/01/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Human activity is leaving a pervasive and persistent signature on Earth. Vigorous debate continues about whether this warrants recognition as a new geologic time unit known as the Anthropocene. We review anthropogenic markers of functional changes in the Earth system through the stratigraphic record. The appearance of manufactured materials in sediments, including aluminum, plastics, and concrete, coincides with global spikes in fallout radionuclides and particulates from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles have been substantially modified over the past century. Rates of sea-level rise and the extent of human perturbation of the climate system exceed Late Holocene changes. Biotic changes include species invasions worldwide and accelerating rates of extinction. These combined signals render the Anthropocene stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene and earlier epochs.

Citations

• Has the Earth’s sixth mass extinction already arrived?
• Tennessee Valley Authority v. Whitman and the Law of Unintended Consequences
• Law Dome CO2, CH4 and N2O ice core records extended to 2000 years BP
• Can an Anthropocene Series be defined and recognized?
• Continental-scale temperature variability during the past two millennia
• The Rheic Ocean: Origin, Evolution, and Significance
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• Atmospheric Radiocarbon for the Period 1950–2010
• The Anthropogenic Greenhouse Era Began Thousands of Years Ago
• IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves 0–50,000 Years cal BP

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• Anthropocene [wikipedia]
• Holocene extinction [wikipedia]
• Will Steffen [wikipedia]