To commemorate the beginning of the Anthropocene, the new geological epoch defined by humankind’s effect on Earth, geologists have decided to do so at a lake in Canada. Even though the International Union of Geological Sciences still has to formally ratify the location, this declaration marks a crucial milestone in the continuing campaign to declare the start of this era.
Approximately 11,700 years ago, when the last glacial era ended, the present geological age, known as the Holocene, started. Although human civilisation developed over the Holocene, our impact on the world has expanded dramatically since the middle of the 20th century, a process known as the Great Acceleration. There are others in the scientific community who see this as the beginning of a new human-dominated age.
The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is a group of scientists that have spent the last several years looking for the greatest geological evidence of the Anthropocene on Earth. They have researched several natural environment archives, such as an Australian coral reef and a Polish peat bog.
Crawford Lake in Ontario, Canada, was declared as the AWG’s preferred location during the International Congress of Stratigraphy in Lille, France. Because the lake is in a protected region, the sediment layers inside it are preserved and can provide accurate information about when they were deposited.
Crawford Lake sediment cores show an uptick in plutonium-239, the radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons testing, in the early 1950s, which coincides with an increase in human activity. Sihailongwan Lake in China and Beppu Bay in Japan were both under consideration as possible locations for Anthropocene commemorative events. Because of the region’s protected status and the blessing of the local Indigenous population, Crawford Lake was selected.
There are others who believe the Anthropocene should not be officially recognised as a geological epoch. Some say that people have been damaging the planet for thousands of years. They believe that geographical differences in the timing of human influences should be taken into account when defining the Anthropocene.
Later this year, Crawford Lake will be formally suggested as the epoch’s starting point, or “golden spike.” The idea will also establish the precise beginning of the Anthropocene, perhaps between 1950 and 1953. The AWG believes a decision on Crawford Lake’s ratification will be made in 2024.
The goal of our effort to define the Anthropocene and create a memorial site is to highlight the critical nature of protecting our planet now.
FAQs
Question 1: What is the Anthropocene epoch?
Answer: The Anthropocene is a proposed new geological epoch defined by the significant impact of human activities on Earth’s geology and ecosystems.
Question 2: Why is Crawford Lake in Canada considered for the Anthropocene commemoration?
Answer: Crawford Lake is preferred by the Anthropocene Working Group due to its well-preserved sediment layers, providing crucial evidence of human impact in the early 1950s, coinciding with the rise of nuclear weapons testing.
Question 3: What is the significance of the “golden spike” in the Anthropocene context?
Answer: The “golden spike” is a location representing the official start of the Anthropocene epoch. It serves as a reference point for geological dating and recognition.
Question 4: Are there differing opinions on officially recognizing the Anthropocene as a geological epoch?
Answer: Yes, some experts argue that human influence on the environment has been occurring for thousands of years, and geographical variations should be considered before declaring the Anthropocene.
Question 5: When will the formal decision on Crawford Lake’s ratification as the Anthropocene “golden spike” be made?
Answer: The Anthropocene Working Group expects to propose Crawford Lake as the epoch’s starting point later this year, with a potential decision in 2024.
