The Anthropocene and Climate Change Quiz

<p>About 100 times faster</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>About 8,000 years ago</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By 30%</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>About 100 times faster</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geology = Ratifying geological boundaries Philosophy = Uniting different disciplines Ethics = Providing societal context for geosciences Paradigm shift = Linking stratigraphy with human history</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Philosophical arguments = Uniting different disciplines Ethical arguments = Societal context for geosciences Paradigm shift = Stratigraphy linked with human history Irreversibility = Loss of biodiversity, climate stability</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plutonium 239 = From above-ground nuclear tests starting in 1952 Fossils = Basis for ratified geological boundaries Rivers = Less influential in shaping the landscape Glaciers = Less influential in shaping the landscape</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Climate forcing from greenhouse gas emissions = Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is about 100 times faster than previous natural increases Ocean acidification and heating = The ocean has absorbed enough carbon dioxide to lower its pH by 0.1 units, a 30% increase in acidity Current extinction = Losing species at a rate ~1,000 times the background rate Garbage and plastic in oceans = Pollution of groundwater and surface waters</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years = About 100 times faster than previous natural increases Current global warming = Happening much faster than compared to the warming interglacial events over the past million years Greenhouse gas concentration deviation = Occurred about 8,000 years ago Onset of cattle and wet rice farming = Time of deviation from natural trend in greenhouse gas concentration</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural extinction rate = About one to five species per year Current extinction rate = ~1,000 times the background rate Warming rate over 110 years = 4 degrees C Normal warming rate over 5000 years = 4 degrees C</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Anthropocene = Geological epoch where humans are the dominant influence on Earth’s climate and environment Hockey stick graph = Illustrates the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years Background extinction rate = Natural rate of about one to five species per year Ocean acidification = Absorption of carbon dioxide leading to a 30% increase in acidity</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Anthropocene is a geological epoch characterized by humans as the dominant influence on Earth’s climate and environment. It signifies the significant effects humans have had on the earth system, such as climate forcing from greenhouse gas emissions, ocean acidification and heating, current extinction rates, and pollution of oceans and groundwater.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'hockey stick' graph illustrates a rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years, approximately 100 times faster than previous natural increases. This rapid increase is a key indicator of the significant impact of human activities on the Earth's climate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The major effects of human influence discussed in the text include climate forcing from greenhouse gas emissions, ocean acidification and heating, current extinction rates, and pollution of oceans and groundwater. These effects reflect the concept of the Anthropocene by highlighting the unprecedented and accelerated impact of human activities on the Earth's climate and environment, marking a distinct geological epoch.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The observed rate of current global warming is happening much faster compared to warming interglacial events over the past million years. Humans could witness a warming of 4 degrees Celsius over 110 years, whereas this warming would normally take 5000 years according to climate controls. This rapid and unprecedented rate of warming further underscores the profound impact of human activities on the Earth's climate, characteristic of the Anthropocene.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Philosophical arguments such as human history vs. geologic history, uniting different disciplines, and irreversibility, as well as ethical arguments related to societal context for geosciences and the paradigm shift in stratigraphy linked with human history, are some of the arguments for defining the Anthropocene as a new geological period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The likely candidate for defining the 'Anthropocene' based on the sedimentary record is Plutonium 239 from above-ground nuclear tests starting in 1952, which is detectable worldwide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geologists may define the 'Anthropocene' in terms of geological boundaries ratified based on one specific location called GSSP (global stratotype section and point), with 65 ratified boundaries, most based on fossils, with the likely candidate being Plutonium 239 from above-ground nuclear tests starting in 1952.</p> Signup and view all the answers