The Great Acceleration and the disappearing surficial geologic record
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Abstract
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.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | The Great Acceleration and the disappearing surficial geologic record |
| Series title | GSA Today |
| DOI | 10.1130/GSATG341GW.1 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Year Published | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Geological Society of America |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | 2 p. |
| First page | 8 |
| Last page | 9 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |