	Home
	Newsletter
	RSS Map
	Privacy Policy
	Contact Us
Search



Newsletter
Your name
Your E-mail
We will never expose your E-Mail address or offer it to any third party

The New Epoch in Evolution of the Earth

comments (0)	article print view publisher send to friends add to favorites post comments
Travel Articles >> Ecotourism

British scientists from the University of Lester believe that today mankind might be witnessing changes of the Earth, which are as significant as the ones that took place in the end of the dinosaur epoch. These changes are caused by the human activity.

According to specialists, traces of changes that are occurring before our eyes, may preserve and be found after millions of years. Therefore we may speak of Anthropocene, the new epoch of evolution of the Earth.

The history of our planet can be divided into several periods, the borders of which can be found due to significant changes of structure in the geological rocks. Alternation of these epochs is often connected with certain cataclysms. Thus, the end of the Cretaceous Period that took place 65 million years ago and lead to vanishing of dinosaurs is often explained by the clash of the Earth with a giant asteroid.

Tectonic changes – or slow migration of continents – are also bringing along great changes. As a result of these movements mountain chains and formed and ocean platforms are changed.

However, the new epoch, declared by the scientists, is caused neither by deep structures inside the earth, nor by the extraterrestrial influence. The reason of passing to the new stage is human activity. This explains the name of the new era – the Anthropocene.

Transfer of the Earth to a new era was first spoken about in the year of 2000. It was then that the scientists began searching if there were any changes that could be found after millions of years. Results of these scientific researches speak in favor of such evidences.

According to geologists, our activity influences the structure of the planet in different ways. First, this influence includes carbon emissions generated by the industrial enterprises. Their amount is much bigger than the amount generated by volcanoes in the course of many years. As a result, composition of air and the temperature regime of the planet are changing.

Besides, people are shifting on the surface of the Earth more materials than traditional “carriers” - rivers and landslides. This influences characteristics of sedimentary rocks. They comprise more and more traces of human activity.

Increase in the acid level of the World Ocean is also ranked among changes caused by the mankind. This process may stop growth of corals, which shall provoke changes in the structure of the sea reefs, visible after many years.

Biological stock of the planet is also changing under the human influence: certain species of plants and animals vanish or change their areas of habitation, leading to changes in alimentary chains.

Specialists of the University of Lester believe that these changes are rather visible and may easily be found many years after. According to the British scientists, industrialization has changed the Earth so much, that there are enough evidences to speak of the end of the previous epoch and the beginning of the new one.

Another equally important question is when and how this era shall end. Scientists believe that it shall be possible to estimate the influence of “the human era” on the Earth, after dozens or even hundreds millions of years.

[Get This Article]

	Most Viewed Articles in Ecotourism categories:

This article has been viewed 475 time(s).
Article Submitted On: February 2, 2008