Global Peak in Atmospheric Radiocarbon Provides a Potential Definition for the Onset of the Anthropocene Epoch in 1965.

Turney, CSM; Palmer, J; Maslin, MA; Hogg, A; Fogwill, CJ; Southon, J; Fenwick, P; Helle, G; Wilmshurst, JM; McGlone, M; Bronk Ramsey, C; Thomas, Z; Lipson, M; Beaven, B; Jones, RT; Andrews, O; Hua, Q

Global Peak in Atmospheric Radiocarbon Provides a Potential Definition for the Onset of the Anthropocene Epoch in 1965.

Turney, CSM Palmer, J Maslin, MA Hogg, A Fogwill, CJ Southon, J Fenwick, P Helle, G Wilmshurst, JM McGlone, M Bronk Ramsey, C Thomas, Z Lipson, M Beaven, B Jones, RT Andrews, O Hua, Q

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Publisher:: NATURE PORTFOLIO
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sci Rep, 2018, 8, (1), pp. 3293
Issue Date:: 2018-02-19

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Turney, CSM
dc.contributor.author	Palmer, J
dc.contributor.author	Maslin, MA
dc.contributor.author	Hogg, A
dc.contributor.author	Fogwill, CJ
dc.contributor.author	Southon, J
dc.contributor.author	Fenwick, P
dc.contributor.author	Helle, G
dc.contributor.author	Wilmshurst, JM
dc.contributor.author	McGlone, M
dc.contributor.author	Bronk Ramsey, C
dc.contributor.author	Thomas, Z
dc.contributor.author	Lipson, M
dc.contributor.author	Beaven, B
dc.contributor.author	Jones, RT
dc.contributor.author	Andrews, O
dc.contributor.author	Hua, Q
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-09T23:09:45Z
dc.date.available	2018-01-26
dc.date.available	2022-09-09T23:09:45Z
dc.date.issued	2018-02-19
dc.identifier.citation	Sci Rep, 2018, 8, (1), pp. 3293
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161599
dc.description.abstract	Anthropogenic activity is now recognised as having profoundly and permanently altered the Earth system, suggesting we have entered a human-dominated geological epoch, the 'Anthropocene'. To formally define the onset of the Anthropocene, a synchronous global signature within geological-forming materials is required. Here we report a series of precisely-dated tree-ring records from Campbell Island (Southern Ocean) that capture peak atmospheric radiocarbon (14C) resulting from Northern Hemisphere-dominated thermonuclear bomb tests during the 1950s and 1960s. The only alien tree on the island, a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), allows us to seasonally-resolve Southern Hemisphere atmospheric 14C, demonstrating the 'bomb peak' in this remote and pristine location occurred in the last-quarter of 1965 (October-December), coincident with the broader changes associated with the post-World War II 'Great Acceleration' in industrial capacity and consumption. Our findings provide a precisely-resolved potential Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) or 'golden spike', marking the onset of the Anthropocene Epoch.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	NATURE PORTFOLIO
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL100100195
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130104156
dc.relation.ispartof	Sci Rep
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/s41598-018-20970-5
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Global Peak in Atmospheric Radiocarbon Provides a Potential Definition for the Onset of the Anthropocene Epoch in 1965.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	8
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-09-09T23:09:40Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	8
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Anthropogenic activity is now recognised as having profoundly and permanently altered the Earth system, suggesting we have entered a human-dominated geological epoch, the 'Anthropocene'. To formally define the onset of the Anthropocene, a synchronous global signature within geological-forming materials is required. Here we report a series of precisely-dated tree-ring records from Campbell Island (Southern Ocean) that capture peak atmospheric radiocarbon (14C) resulting from Northern Hemisphere-dominated thermonuclear bomb tests during the 1950s and 1960s. The only alien tree on the island, a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), allows us to seasonally-resolve Southern Hemisphere atmospheric 14C, demonstrating the 'bomb peak' in this remote and pristine location occurred in the last-quarter of 1965 (October-December), coincident with the broader changes associated with the post-World War II 'Great Acceleration' in industrial capacity and consumption. Our findings provide a precisely-resolved potential Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) or 'golden spike', marking the onset of the Anthropocene Epoch.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161599