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Frontiers of Earth Science

ISSN 2095-0195

ISSN 2095-0209(Online)

CN 11-5982/P

Postal Subscription Code 80-963

2018 Impact Factor: 1.205

Front Earth Sci    2011, Vol. 5 Issue (1) : 56-60    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-011-0163-4
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Discussion on the previous proposal of the addition of a chronostratigraphic unit over the Holocene
Xiongfei CAI1,2(), Hao YANG1,2, Yansheng GU1
1. Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology (Ministry of Education), China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China; 2. Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074,China
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Abstract

A stratigraphical unit was proposed before as the “anthropocene” over the Holocene to characterize the anthropogenic activities. We argue here for the great significance of that proposal. The human-induced geological processes, including anthropogenic weathering, denudation, transportation, and accumulation, are getting more and more important in modern environments. These processes are intensive, rapid, and extensive and, at some cases, even exceed the natural geological process in intensity. The anthropogenic geological processes, which are definitely distinctive from the natural processes that occurred before in the geological history, have both positive and negative effects on the Earth surface system. Adding a chronostratigraphical unit favors the investigation of anthropogenic activities, which concerns both natural and social science. A flooding sediment profile with some anthropogenic fingerprints is clearly identifiable at the top of the Holocene sediments, enabling the three subdivisions of the whole Quaternary sediments in the middle reaches of Yellow River. It is thus necessary to add the chronostratigraphic unit of the “anthropocene” over the Holocene.

Keywords chronostratigraphic unit      human activities      “anthropocene”      anthropogenic geological process      positive and negative impact     
Corresponding Author(s): CAI Xiongfei,Email:caixiongfei1952@163.com   
Issue Date: 05 March 2011
 Cite this article:   
Xiongfei CAI,Hao YANG,Yansheng GU. Discussion on the previous proposal of the addition of a chronostratigraphic unit over the Holocene[J]. Front Earth Sci, 2011, 5(1): 56-60.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-011-0163-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2011/V5/I1/56
Fig.1  Profile of modern alluvial deposit in Nian Fang
Fig.2  Profile of modern alluvial deposit in Qian Gongzhong
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