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Could a potential Anthropocene mass extinction define a new geological period

Bibliographic Data

ID4189101
AuthorsKaren L Bacon (0000-0002-8944-5107, University of Leeds, corresponding author), Graeme T Swindles (0000-0001-8039-1790, University of Leeds)
Year2016
Volume3
Issue3
Pages208-217
Publication date2016-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Anthropocene Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2053-0196 • E-ISSN: 2053-020X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/2053019616666867
OpenAlexW2520521120
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited80

A key aspect of the current debate about the Anthropocene focuses on defining a new geological epoch. Features of the Anthropocene include a biodiversity crisis with the potential to reach 'mass extinction' status alongside increasing global CO2 and temperature. Previous geological boundaries associated with mass extinctions, rises in atmospheric CO2 and rises in global temperature are more usually associated with transitions between geological periods. The current rapid increase in species extinctions suggest that a new mass extinction event is most likely imminent in the near-term future. Although CO2 levels are currently low in comparison with the rest of the Phanerozoic, they are rising rapidly along with global temperatures. This suggests that defining the Anthropocene as a new geological period, rather than a new epoch, may be more consistent with previous geological boundaries in the Phanerozoic

Anthropocene · Astronomy · Biodiversity · Cenozoic · Climate change · Earth science · Extinction event · Geologic record · Geologic time scale · Global change · Phanerozoic · Structural basin · Geological and Geochemical Analysis · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils · Ecology · Geology · Oceanography · Paleontology

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Unique citing works5
Citations per year0,56
Citation span2017 - 2025 (9)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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