The Anthropocene as an epoch is distinct from all other concepts known by this term: a reply to Swindles et al. (2023)

Head, Martin J.; Waters, Colin N.; Zalasiewicz, Jan; Barnosky, Anthony D.; Turner, Simon; Cearreta, Alejandro; Leinfelder, Reinhold; McCarthy, Francine M.G.; Richter, Daniel D.; Rose, Neil L.; Saito, Yoshiki; Vidas, Davor; Wagreich, Michael; Han, Yongming; Summerhayes, Colin; Williams, Mark; Zinke, Jens

doi:10.1002/jqs.3513

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Since 2016 (Waters et al, 2016), researchers from the AWG have proposed the APC (Zalasiewicz et al, 2019;Head et al, 2021;Head et al, 2023). The vast majority of the AWG members argue 20 (Head et al, 2021) that a stage shift in the dynamics of the Earth System is unfolding (Otto et al, 2020b;Folke et al, 2021).…”

Section: Geoscientific Borderline Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the concern to be open to humanities and social sciences contributions is essential for favouring AVC (Edgeworth et al, 2015;Bauer et al, 2021;Walker et al, 2023). However, its validity is contested (Head et al, 2023), and it looks disapproved by the bibliographic record (Brauch, 2021).…”

Section: An Alternative Framingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the Earth Science communities, a debate persists as to whether the "geological now," i.e., the "anthropocene," should be classified as an event (Gibbard et al, 2022), episode (Head et al, 2023), or epoch (Head et al, 2022b). These categorical choices yield disparate portrayals of "human-modified deposits and anthropogenic signals in the stratigraphic record" (Finney and Gibbard, 2023) [p.461].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crafting Attributes of a Geological Now

Bohle

2023

Earth Sci. Syst. Soc.

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Taking an Earth Science framework as its point of departure, this paper delves into the sociocultural ramifications of two distinct geological interpretations—epoch and event—of the contested but widely acknowledged term “Anthropocene.” While the term has gained considerable traction for encapsulating planetary-scale anthropogenic changes (PSAC), its meanings are varied, spanning scientific, philosophical, and cultural discourses. Earth scientists often examine PSAC through the lens of their discipline, yet the complex sociocultural implications attached to such geoscientific concepts call for an interdisciplinary perspective. Introduced by Crutzen and Stoermer in 2000, the term “Anthropocene” is designed to account for the transformative impact of modern societies on Earth System dynamics. Presently, two opposing viewpoints exist within geological discourse to describe PSAC: the “Anthropocene-as-an-event” concept, which underscores the accretion of human-induced changes, and the “Anthropocene-as-an-epoch” concept, focusing on a substantial alteration in Earth System dynamics. Utilising Renn’s theory of “The Evolution of Knowledge,” the paper posits these concepts as scientific borderline problems, catalysts for epistemic inquiries, linked to specific “economies of knowledge.” The ensuing analysis accentuates the multidimensionality of articulating PSAC from an Earth Science viewpoint, asserting that it not only mandates understanding the geological dimensions but also calls for integrating sociocultural and philosophical contexts. The paper concludes that geological terminology should consider associated cultural contexts of Earth Science to establish leadership for vital epistemic concepts.

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Section: Geoscientific Borderline Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: An Alternative Framingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crafting Attributes of a Geological Now

Bohle

2023

Earth Sci. Syst. Soc.

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“…The novice epoch posed threats to the human race and its natural systems causing climate changes, global warming, mean sea level changes, human explosion, and finally extinction of species. However, the epoch will inspire creativity, transformative, sustainable policy formations, and long-term responses to the unrelenting challenges [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The etymology of Gender Violence (SDG-5) in Anthropocene: India

Mishra

2023

JALSI

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Gender equality measures the human right of a nation. Feminist encounters are common in modern society and gender inequality is mounting in India during the present Anthropocene epoch (1950 onwards). Gender-based violence (GBV) has a myriad of adverse effects but is under-reported in India. The Paris Protocols of Agenda-2030 stipulate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for all sex and age groups of Hom sapiens. The present investigation emphasizes the theoretical perceptions and statistical approaches to comprehending GBVs (SDG-5) in India. The present work involves the qualitative investigation of the frequency, physical appearance, and socio-demographic factors that correlate with gender equality and girl-child empowerment (SDG-5) during the Anthropocene epoch and finding means for both social and legal achievement. Feministic violence is mainly grounded upon childhood marriage, humane trafficking, female genital mutilation, etc. Achieving gender equality, and empowering all girls under hunger, war, climate challenges (CC), men dominance, and environmental exploitation, during the Anthropocene epoch. India has recently ranked top in population than China. The pandemic COVID 19 has challenged the life/livelihood of Indians. Peculiar results of women and girl child atrocities are unexpectedly high in states like Assam, Odisha, and Delhi. During the last decade, the dowery and rapes reduced but intimate partner violence and kidnapping are mounting during biological disasters. The transformation of males' outlook toward their partners must be changed to achieve the SDG-5 goals.

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“…The GSSP proposal is supported by three Standard Auxiliary Boundary Stratotypes (SABSs) in cores from Beppu Bay (Japan), Sihailongwan Maar Lake (China), and Śnieżka Peatland (Poland), and eight reference sections that permit correlation of the base of the Anthropocene into many of the diverse depositional environments in which it is clearly recorded (see Appendix 2). Global correlation is achieved using the many geosignatures of the Great Acceleration Event Array (GAEA:Head et al, 2023a, b). In the analysis of 12 candidate sites and other reference sections for potential formalisation of the Anthropocene(Waters et al, 2023, Table 2, Figure2), more than one hundred separate proxy signals were used to characterise the stratigraphy at decadal to annual, in some cases sub-annual, level.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Part 2: Descriptions of the proposed Crawford Lake GSSP and supporting SABSs. The Anthropocene Epoch and Crawfordian Age: proposals by the Anthropocene Working Group

Waters,

Turner,

et al. 2024

Preprint

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This part of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) submission proposes that the base of the Anthropocene should be defined as series/epoch, terminating the Holocene Series/Epoch with a single Crawfordian stage/age using a Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) in an annually varved Crawford Lake core, Ontario, Canada, defined at 17.5 cm in core CRA23-BC-1F-B at the base of the dark lamina in a varve deposited in 1952 CE, at the level where the primary marker shows a rapid increase in 239+240Pu concentrations (coinciding with a globally recognisable, isochronous signal of the first above-ground thermonuclear tests). Secondary markers, determined in precisely correlated core closely adjacent to the proposed GSSP host, include a marked increase in 14C values and in spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs), increased heavy metal concentrations, a decline in δ15N values, a marked change in phytoplankton assemblages and declines in elm (Ulmus) pollen and in non-arboreal pollen. The submission also provides descriptions of three proposed Standard Auxiliary Boundary Stratotypes (SABSs), in cores extracted from marine anoxic sediments of Beppu Bay (Japan), in Sihailongwan Maar Lake (China) and in the Śnieżka Peatland (Poland) and eight reference sections located in cores extracted from marine anoxic sediments in the Baltic Sea, from coral bioherms off Australia and in the Gulf of Mexico, from an Antarctic ice core, from San Francisco Estuary and nearby lake (USA), in a speleothem from northern Italy and a section in urban anthropogenic deposits in Austria. This ubiquity of signals verifies that the Anthropocene can be widely delineated as a sharply distinctive chronostratigraphic unit in diverse terrestrial and marine depositional environments, and reflects a major Earth System change that will have geologically lasting consequences.

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The Anthropocene as an epoch is distinct from all other concepts known by this term: a reply to Swindles et al. (2023)

Cited by 13 publications

References 27 publications

Crafting Attributes of a Geological Now

Crafting Attributes of a Geological Now

The etymology of Gender Violence (SDG-5) in Anthropocene: India

Part 2: Descriptions of the proposed Crawford Lake GSSP and supporting SABSs. The Anthropocene Epoch and Crawfordian Age: proposals by the Anthropocene Working Group

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