Anthropocene最新文献

Flood damage has increased worldwide in recent decades with a concomitant increased risk of flood-induced pollution. From the perspective of urban political ecology, we ask whether scientists acknowledge flood-induced pollution as a problem and if so how they address it. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyse 30 semi-structured interviews with researchers in France and Quebec. Our results show that flood pollution can be framed not only in terms of its impact on the environment and our societies, but also as a social representation that varies with the spatial context. The diversity of flood-induced pollution, whether in terms of materiality, visibility, or causation, highlights the undefined contours of flood pollution for the scientific community. We identify obstacles to the emergence of this problem in the scientific arena explained by the structuring of this arena, the vagueness of the term pollution, regulation, and individual and collective approaches to resilience. We argue that these obstacles can be overcome by considering pollution as a social construct and viewing cities in a metabolic framework.

Physical and chemical modifications within soils have been proposed as a marker of the Anthropocene, as soils can preserve modifications due to past land use for long periods of time. Soils are the primary terrestrial reservoir of C and N and are especially important for sequestration and emission of C related to land use changes. The northeast US has a well-documented sequence of deforestation and reforestation related to land use changes following European settlement, yet the impact of land use and recovery on C and N stocks and isotopes is still poorly constrained. We analyze δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, and C/N to evaluate changes to soil C and N related to historical land use across an Anthropocene chronosequence comprised of four land use classes that vary in terms of duration of disturbance and recovery time from past agricultural activity. Reforested soils show minimal difference in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C and display no overall statistical relationship with abandonment length, while modern agricultural soils have higher δ¹⁵N values. Differences in total C and N between land use classes are more distinct, as SOC decreases and total N increases with longer land use duration. Historic agriculture increased C and N storage, and recently abandoned land still has the potential to act as a sink to store more organic C. In total, land use imparts clear changes to SOC and N stocks that persist long after abandonment, providing a distinct marker of anthropogenic activities. However, stable C and N isotopes of soils within reforested classes show only slight differences between land use classes, indicating shorter timescales of isotopic resetting of C and N signatures following abandonment.

Following its advent as a concept, the Anthropocene has flourished as a new worldview in academic and public communities alike. Yet, the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy recently voted against formally ratifying the Anthropocene as an Epoch, pointing to the restrictive geologic framework, and highlighting the need for a globally represented and synchronous marker. In this Viewpoint, we utilize global bibliographic data, Google search data, IPCC authors, and the Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI) to examine the global diversity of the Anthropocene discourse by measuring academic interest and public engagement in the topic, while also considering the proportional influence, justice, and inclusivity of this discourse. We argue that the conceptual and geological frameworks of the Anthropocene share a complex and non-translatable relationship. Further, we urge reconsideration of geologically rigid definitions in the spirit of recognizing holistic identification of human impacts to the Earth System, while also addressing the gaps in global influence with this pressing concept. Last, we explore successful examples integrating disparate disciplinary perspectives to achieve greater understanding of the Anthropocene and discuss avenues for future directions in the areas of human-environment interactions, as well as environmental justice and equity.

The world population is projected to peak before 2050, with a significant majority residing in highly urbanized areas. As a result, urban areas are expected to undergo further anthropogenic transformations, which will not only influence spatial development (i.e. sealing urban systems) but also affect local climatic conditions. One likely consequence is the increasing incidence of adverse interactions between two phenomena occurring in city centers, which can have a significant impact on human quality of life: urban heat islands (UHI) and urban pollution islands (UPI). Here, we review scientific research relating to the interaction of UHI and UPI. Two basic databases were used: Web of Science and Scopus. The literature review covers publications appearing between 1968 and 2022 (Web of Science: 1300 related to 'heat island’, 18,222 on ‘air pollution’; Scopus: 4393 on ‘heat island’ and 34,498 on ‘air pollution’), in fields such as environmental studies and meteorology studies. A significant number of the published articles were focused on cities located in Asia, Europe, and North America. Our findings show increasing research interest in UHI–UPI interactions, reflecting the risks they pose in the modern world—not only to human health and life, but also to the ecosystem. Effective urban planning emerges as a critical tool for addressing these challenges. Through the careful selection and implementation of targeted mitigation and adaptation strategies, it becomes possible to safeguard and enhance living conditions for urban populations. Such strategic planning is essential for ensuring that cities are not only habitable but also resilient and sustainable in the face of demographic shifts and environmental pressures.

This study aimed to assess the potential impact of global climate change on the highland areas of Kastamonu, a significant province in Turkey known for its numerous and varied highlands. The investigation focused on 59 selected highland locations within the region. Using the De Martonne climate classification, projections were made for four future periods (2040, 2060, 2080, and 2100) under two scenarios: SSPs 245 and SSPs 585. The outcomes of the study indicate that the highlands under scrutiny are susceptible to substantial effects from global climate change. Notably, these climatic alterations are expected to become evident within the next two decades, predominantly manifesting as a shift towards arid climate classifications. These shifts are anticipated to have a profound impact on the composition and diversity of species in the highland ecosystems. Based on the findings, it is advisable to consider interventions for the most climate-sensitive highland areas, such as facilitating the migration of species adapted to the new climate conditions and implementing initiatives to enhance species diversity. These efforts could help mitigate the potential loss of species and populations resulting from climate change.

The lipid content of a high mountain lake (Lake Isoba) allowed the reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental changes and anthropic influence in Northern Spain during the last 550 years. Fatty acids (FAs) and n-alkan-2-ones indicate little degradation of OM. Three units were delimited. During Unit A (ca. 1460–1780 CE) high carbon preference index values, predominance of high-molecular-weight saturated FAs, and good correspondence between the predominant n-alkane and saturated FA chains indicate higher OM input and evidence of minimal degradation, linked to the cold and dry Little Ice Age, that favoured the OM input derived mainly from land plants, and the reduced bacterial activity. In Unit B (ca. 1780–2006 CE) the n-alkane and saturated FA profiles showed a remarkable mismatch suggestive of preferential microbial synthesis of long chain saturated FAs from primary OM and/or bacterial activity (predominance of low-molecular-weight saturated FAs but with a bimodal distribution), in coincidence with a decrease in OM input, which could be linked to the global warming that started in the second half of the 19th century. Although OM continued deriving mainly from terrigenous plants, aquatic macrophytes increased their contribution to the OM indicating the amelioration of environmental conditions. Evidence of considerable phytoplankton productivity and microbial activity was significant in Unit C (ca. 2006–2018 CE) coinciding with the highest concentrations of n-alkanes and saturated FAs, linked to warmer and drier conditions, and to greater anthropogenic influence. In addition, organic sulfur and gammacerane indicates loss of oligotrophy, and the record of faecal stanols, particularly that of 24-ethylcoprostanol, strongly evidences notable and rising water pollution associated with increasing cattle ranching in the lake catchment during the past 10–15 years.

The Mediterranean Basin is an environmental change hotspot that, relative to other regions of the world, is forecasted to experience a significant shift in biodiversity due to multiple factors such as climate change and agricultural intensification. Within this framework, the Eastern Mediterranean region is projected to face a temperature rise of ∼3.5–7 °C by 2070–2099 which will result in severe heat stress and freshwater scarcity, along with increased human impacts due to pronounced demographic growth. To assess the impact of environmental and human pressures on plant diversity, we studied the evolution of this major constituent of biodiversity in the Eastern Mediterranean over 8000 years. Our analysis demonstrates that plant diversity has been impacted by long-term (e.g. multi-millennial scale) changes in temperature, precipitation and anthropogenic activities. We identified a tipping point for each of these drivers, showing that Eastern Mediterranean plant diversity has already exceeded its tipping point for precipitation (threshold: 376 ± 17 mm for winter), while it has already attained its critical threshold for temperature (threshold: 1.33 ± 0.5 °C) and anthropogenic activities (threshold: −1.05 ± 0.4 - low to medium pressures). This suggests that the region’s vegetation will probably progressively give way to species that are better suited and more resilient to the changing environmental conditions.

Agricultural development has transformed the vegetation cover of many landscapes around the world, thereby altering water and sediment fluxes to river systems. Past work in the upper midwestern United States, particularly in areas of moderate relief, has shown that increases in water and sediment fluxes associated with agricultural development have dramatically altered river dynamics. Less is known about how agriculture has affected river dynamics, particularly rates of lateral migration, in relatively low relief landscapes of the Midwest shaped by glaciation during the Wisconsin Episode. This research examines rates of lateral migration of a channel bend along a lowland meandering river in Illinois, USA before and after agricultural development. The rate of lateral migration prior to agricultural development is estimated through dating of carbonaceous material within lateral-accretion deposits underlying distinct meander scrolls. The rate of lateral migration after agricultural development is determined from analysis of changes in river-channel position determined from survey records, aerial imagery, and digital elevation data. Average rates of migration before and after agricultural development are similar, suggesting that agricultural development has not substantially affected rates of lateral migration of the river. Some accelerated movement occurred locally following agricultural development, but this movement cannot be definitively tied to landscape transformation. Possible factors responsible for the lack of sensitivity of the river system to agricultural development include high resistance of the cohesive, tree-lined riverbanks to erosion and the low bankfull stream power per unit area of the modern river. From a management perspective, the study highlights the importance of bank vegetation in maintaining channel stability in low-relief agricultural landscapes.

Road deicing salts have impacted the hydrogeochemistry of lakes throughout the snow-belt region of the globe. This paper advances our understanding of the historical change in salt concentrations in, and sources to, the Finger Lakes of western and central New York state, and compares the results to other lakes across the globe. Surface water samples from Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco lakes were analyzed for chloride (Cl) concentrations, and augmented with published and unpublished decade, and for the first time, century-scale Cl data for these lakes and Hemlock Lake. A mass-balance model estimated the Cl flux required to match the measured Cl concentrations in each lake. Cl concentration and flux trends defined two groups of lakes. Group 1: A mid-1900′s peak in Cl concentrations was detected in Seneca and Cayuga lakes, that resulted from a short but significant spike of Cl, most likely from salt mine wastes during pre-Environmental Protection Agency times. Group 2: Hemlock, Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco lakes, revealed smaller yet increasing concentrations and fluxes over time that were interpreted to reflect increasing use of road deicing salts in their watersheds and supported by correlations to their state and federal road lengths, percentage of impervious surfaces, water residence times in each watershed and the production of road salt in the US, but not to their trophic status, nor their percentage of agricultural land. Estimated Cl inputs from municipal wastewater treatment facilities, individual septic systems and the atmosphere (precipitation) were also insignificant in the Finger Lakes region. These results help clarify the processes responsible for increasing Chloride concentrations in lakes globally.

Soil and water bioengineering (SWBE) is a nature-based solution (NBS) that can be used to stabilize riverbanks with living vegetation. Aside to protecting property and people, SWBE provides benefits for human well-being and biodiversity. Its use remains modest in cities, where the presumed benefits are important in a context of biodiversity crisis and warming. Negative public perceptions have been identified as one barrier to the dissemination of NBS. This article studies how environmental expertise influences perceptions and values associated with SWBE, and how the possible differences in perceptions and values induced by knowledge contribute to hindering or promoting the dissemination of these solutions. We carried out an original interdisciplinary study based on a sociological survey and ecological field measurements to characterize: (1) the perceived value that actors associate with several riverbanks equipped with different protection structures (green, hybrid, or gray) according to their level of expertise in the aquatic environment; (2) the interactions between these perceived values and the ecological values measured by restoration ecologists; and (3) the perceived benefits and drawbacks of SBWE techniques. Our results show that the ecological and social benefits provided by NBS are recognized by all, whatever their level of knowledge. Despite this consensus, we observed different hierarchies of value associated with bank protection structures among the surveyed actors, depending on their level of environmental expertise (some prioritising ecological values, others relational values), and these could hinder the dissemination of NBS. The most tangible obstacle to the dissemination of NBS in urban areas relates to the risk perceptions of lay people, who experience a higher sense of vulnerability than they do with traditional gray solutions.