Dawn Of the Anthropocene: Five Ways We Know Humans Have Triggered A New Geological Epoch

Environment





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Carbon in the atmosphere is one of many major marks humans will leave on the geological record. William Hong / Reuters

Is the Anthropocene real? That is, the vigorously debated concept of a new geological epoch driven by humans.

Our environmental impact is indeed profound – there is little debate about that – but is it significant on a geological timescale, measured over millions of years? And will humans leave a distinctive mark upon the layers of rocks that geologists of 100,000,000AD might use to investigate the present day?