Assignment: Humans Force Earth into New Geologic Epoch

Charles Bomar
Initial Publication Date: April 29, 2016

Summary

This is discussion level assignment where students are to use their previous lecture material, group members and the internet to evaluate the claims of evidence of climate change.


Learning Goals

To get students thinking about consequences of climate change, and subsequent credibility of scientists. Who is qualified to determine when geologic epochs are changing?

Context for Use

This exercise was designed for a first year non-majors course in Environmental Science.

Description and Teaching Materials

This classroom exercise is designed to do two things

1) Discuss Crutzen's commentary on the Anthropocene
2) Identify when someone is credible to make such claims


Anthropocene
Students read brief article and discuss various aspects of the Anthropocene anthropocene.doc (Microsoft Word 25kB Nov19 15)

Humans Force Earth into New Geologic Epoch

http://www.livescience.com/environment/080127-new-epoch.html

1) What is a geologic epoch?

2) What were the last 3 epochs, and how long did they last?? What is different about this one?

3) Paul Cruzen has developed this idea of a human caused epoch of the Anthropocene. Does he have the credentials to make such a claim?

4) What are some of the indicators to promote the idea of the Anthropocene? ( give detailed examples at least 4 of them)

5) This Anthopocene event concludes the "Holocene Extinction event." What were the other 6 mass extinction events, and what caused them?

6) What do you think people like Leopold, Muir and Roosevelt would say about this "event"?

7) What does your group think of this event?

8) Does your group think the actions mentioned in this article are reversible, repairable?? Why or why not?

Teaching Notes and Tips

Students should be briefed in biodiversity and the geologic history of the earth.

Assessment

This is a fairly straight forward exercise in getting students to realize the the earth is a dynamic system and recognize that humans are likely playing a role in this latest event

References and Resources

Humans Force Earth into New Geologic Epoch http://www.livescience.com/environment/080127-new-epoch.html

Citation

bomar, c. (2011). Assignment: Humans Force Earth into New Geologic Epoch . Retrieved from http://www.camelclimatechange.org/view/assignment/51cbf16c7896bb431f6a5768