Next month's National Geographic brings into the mainstream the idea, conceived in 2000, that geologists ought to think of today as the Anthropocene, a new period of geologic time. The reason is that the Earth today is deeply influenced by human beings. It's as much consciousness-raising as it is science. My article on the Anthropocene goes deeper than the Geographic, although without its trademark gorgeous photography.
Related:
The Phanerozoic time scale
Mapping geologic time
The geologic time Geo-Quiz
Comments
geologists call it as holocene
I think that’s the point…the Holocene is about 12,000 years time, whereas mankind’s direct effects on geological processes is a fairly recent. This “Anthropocene” marks a new age in geological history where man’s influence is directly attributable.
As an example. the reported increased rate of decay of glaciation may give geologists an opportunity to study the immediate exposure of drumlins and eskers and the like.