Discussion on the previous proposal of the addition of a chronostratigraphic unit over the Holocene

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.