The Great Acceleration and the Disappearing Surficial Geologic Record

GSA Today

Jason A. Rech¹ 

关键词: Geological Society of America;    GSA Today;    Groundwork;    Surficial Geologic Record;    Great Acceleration;    J.A. Rech;   

DOI  :  10.1130/GSATG341GW.1

学科分类：地质学

来源: Geological Society of America

【 摘 要 】

The surficial geologic record is the relatively thin veneer of young (<~1 Ma) and mostly unconsolidated sediments that cover portions of Earth’s terrestrial surface (Fig. 1). Once largely ignored as “overburden” by geologists, surficial deposits are now studied to address a wide range of issues related to the sustainability of human societies. Geologists use surficial deposits to determine the frequency and severity of past climatic changes, quantify natural and anthropogenic erosion rates, identify hazards, and calculate recurrence intervals associated with earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Increasingly, however, humans are eradicating the surficial geologic record in many key areas through progressive modification of Earth’s surface.

【 授权许可】

CC BY