The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series

M. Allison Stegner; Elizabeth A. Hadly; Anthony D. Barnosky; SeanPaul La Selle; Brian L. Sherrod; R. Scott Anderson; Sergio A. Redondo; Maria Viteri; Karrie Weaver; Andrew Cundy; Pawel Gaca; Neil Rose; Handong Yang; Sarah A. Roberts; Irka Hajdas; Bryan A. Black; Trisha Spanbauer

doi:10.1177/20530196221144098

The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series

The Anthropocene Review

By: M. Allison Stegner, Elizabeth A. Hadly, Anthony D. Barnosky, SeanPaul La Selle, Brian L. Sherrod, R. Scott Anderson, Sergio A. Redondo, Maria Viteri, Karrie Weaver, Andrew Cundy, Pawel Gaca, Neil Rose, Handong Yang, Sarah A. Roberts, Irka Hajdas, Bryan A. Black, and Trisha Spanbauer

https://doi.org/10.1177/20530196221144098

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Abstract

Cores from Searsville Lake within Stanford University’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, California, USA, are examined to identify a potential GSSP for the Anthropocene: core JRBP2018-VC01B (944.5 cm-long) and tightly correlated JRBP2018-VC01A (852.5 cm-long). Spanning from 1900 CE ± 3 years to 2018 CE, a secure chronology resolved to the sub-annual level allows detailed exploration of the Holocene-Anthropocene transition. We identify the primary GSSP marker as first appearance of ^239,240Pu (372–374 cm) in JRBP2018-VC01B and designate the GSSP depth as the distinct boundary between wet and dry season at 366 cm (6 cm above the first sample containing ^239,240Pu) and corresponding to October-December 1948 CE. This is consistent with a lag of 1–2 years between ejection of ^239,240Pu into the atmosphere and deposition. Auxiliary markers include: first appearance of ¹³⁷Cs in 1958; late 20th-century decreases in δ¹⁵N; late 20th-century elevation in SCPs, Hg, Pb, and other heavy metals; and changes in abundance and presence of ostracod, algae, rotifer and protozoan microfossils. Fossil pollen document anthropogenic landscape changes related to logging and agriculture. As part of a major university, the Searsville site has long been used for research and education, serves users locally to internationally, and is protected yet accessible for future studies and communication about the Anthropocene.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series
Series title	The Anthropocene Review
DOI	10.1177/20530196221144098
Volume	10
Issue	1
Year Published	2023
Language	English
Publisher	Sage Publishing
Contributing office(s)	Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description	30 p.
First page	116
Last page	145
Country	United States
State	California
Other Geospatial	Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Searsville Lake
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page