Anthropocene

This is a general term meaning “the era of Mankind,” or the period of Earth’s history where humans have existed and have had an impact on the planet. It’s often used in an environmental context to encapsulate the changes humans have had on the planet.

The term is not totally accepted as a formal epoch within the scientific community. There is considerable debate about it.

Why I Looked It Up

I’ve seen it quite a few places, but I don’t have a specific reference in my notes.

Postscript

I’ve become aware that we are technically in the Holocene epoch of geologic time. The argument is whether or not we should end the Holocene and begin the Anthropocene.