May 30 , 2019
1925 days
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- A 34-member panel of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) has voted 29-4 in favour of designating a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene epoch.
- This marks the end of the Holocene Epoch, which began 11,700 years ago.
- The term ‘Anthropocene’ was coined in 2000 by Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer.
- Anthropocene epoch denotes the present geological time interval in which human activity has deeply altered many conditions and processes on Earth.
- Scientists are looking for the “Golden spike” which initiated Anthropocene epoch.
- Golden spike is a global level geological marker which triggers the new epoch.
- Example: Artificial radionuclides spread across the world by atomic bomb tests from the early 1950s.
Official bodies involved
- This proposal will be sent to the International Commission on Stratigraphy which oversees the official Geological time chart.
- The final ratification will be made by the International Union of Geological Sciences.
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