The 'Anthropocene' is a proposed new geological epoch defined by the significant global impact of human activity on the Earth's ecosystems and geology. This topic challenges students to apply the principles of stratigraphy to the modern world, looking for the 'geological signature' we are leaving behind, from plastic pollution and radioactive isotopes to rapid shifts in carbon levels. Students compare the current rate of environmental change with past events like the PETM (Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum) and evaluate the potential of technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to mitigate our impact.
National Curriculum Attainment TargetsA-Level Geology (Eduqas) 6.3: Global climate changeA-Level Geology (OCR) 5.1.3: The Anthropocene
Divide the class into groups, each advocating for a different starting point for the Anthropocene (e.g., the Industrial Revolution, the first nuclear tests, or the 'Great Acceleration' of the 1950s). They must argue which event provides the most distinct and global stratigraphic marker.
What stratigraphic markers might define the base of the Anthropocene?
Display images of 'future fossils' (e.g., plastiglomerates, concrete, electronic waste). Students move around to discuss how these materials will look in the rock record 10 million years from now and what they tell future geologists about our civilization.
How does the current rate of carbon emission compare to past geological events?
Groups are given data on different geological formations (depleted oil fields, saline aquifers, basalt flows). They must evaluate which is best for long-term Carbon Capture and Storage, considering capacity, security, and cost.
Can carbon capture and storage (CCS) mitigate anthropogenic climate change?
The Anthropocene is already an 'official' part of the geological timescale.
It is currently a proposed term and is still being debated by the International Commission on Stratigraphy. Peer discussion about the 'rules' of naming a new epoch helps students understand the rigor required in formal geology.
Climate change has happened before, so the current change is 'natural'.
While the climate has always changed, the *rate* of current CO2 increase is unprecedented in the geological record. Using 'rate of change' calculations and comparing them to past events helps students see the unique nature of the Anthropocene.