Course:EOSC311/2024/The Anthropocene
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Statement of connection and why you chose it
The course delve into fossil fuels and their importance. The study of the Geological time is where the idea of Anthropocene comes in which fits because humans burn these fossil fuels and influence the Earth dynamics. The module on water is also pertinent when studying the ice and countering the burning of fossils fuels by exploring renewable sources like hydro-power. This is one of several ways in which Geology relates to Geography(which is my major). I chose it because the Anthropocene is not only recent but it is also currently affecting our planet. These has consequences to the current and future generations.
Main text
- What is Anthropocene
The Anthropocene is a term used by Scientists to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activities started to have a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems. Humans are substantially altering the Earth’s surface at a rate that has never been experienced before. The term is yet to be recognized as official because it is still disputed but all the same, it’s pertinent to understanding the Earth’s processes in the current time. Understanding the debate about the concept of the Anthropocene requires delving across a range of disciplines including geology, climate science, Earth system sciences among others.[1]
- Controversy regarding the definition of the Anthropocene
There are debates in the scientific literature when it comes to incorporating the Anthropocene as an official term. One debate concerns informal use of the Anthropocene concept to recognise the influence of humans on the global environment or the Earth System. The second debate focuses on the formal definition of the Anthropocene Epoch by geoscientists.[2]
- Geological evidence of Anthropocene
Defining the Anthropocene as a geological epoch must be based on evidence, including changes to the Earth system lasting millions of years and the existence of stratigraphic evidence marking such changes.[3] All other geological time-units have agreed-upon dated markers or agreed-upon dates. The Anthropocene should not be treated differently.[4]
- Significance of the Anthropocene
-Fossil fuels burning
[More to come]
-Effect on the natural environment
[More to come]
-Water
[More to come]
-Organisms and biodiversity loss
[More to come]
-Atmosphere
[More to come]
- The future and Sustainability
Depending on the collective actions of humanity, future environmental conditions could be either beneficial or hostile for sustaining human life and well-being. [5]
Conclusion / Your Evaluation of the Connections
The link between Geology and Geography is clear. The influence of human activities in terms of how they contribute to global warming and subsequently climate change cannot be overlooked...
References
- ↑ Malhi, Y. (2017). The concept of the Anthropocene. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 42, 77-104.
- ↑ Maslin, M. A., & Lewis, S. L. (2015). Anthropocene: Earth System, geological, philosophical and political paradigm shifts. The Anthropocene Review, 2(2), 108-116.
- ↑ Gradstein F. M., Ogg J. G., Schmitz M. D., Ogg G. M., The Geologic Time Scale 2012 (Elsevier BV, Netherlands, 2012).
- ↑ Lewis, S. L., & Maslin, M. A. (2015). Geological evidence for the Anthropocene. Science, 349(6245), 246-247.
- ↑ Folke, C., Carpenter, S. R., Chapin III, F. S., Gaffney, O., Galaz, V., Hoffmann, H., ... & Österblom, H. (2020). Our Future in the Anthropocene Biosphere: Global sustainability and resilient societies. Folke, Carl, et al.
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