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Which one of the following is the primary basis for dividing Earth's history into units on the Geological Time Scale?
  • a)
    Evolutionary changes in organisms
  • b)
    Presence of human activity
  • c)
    Earth’s rock layers and fossils found within them
  • d)
    Climatic variations over time
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Which one of the following is the primary basis for dividing Earths hi...
Scientists have voted against a proposal to declare a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene to reflect how profoundly human activity has altered the planet.
About Anthropocene Epoch:
  • It is an unofficial unit of geologic time, used to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems.
  • The word Anthropocene is derived from the Greek words anthropo, for “man,” and cene, for “new,” coined and made popular by biologist Eugene Stormer and chemist Paul Crutzen in 2000.
  • There are numerous phenomena associated with this proposed epoch, such as global warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mass-scale soil erosion, the advent of deadly heat waves, deterioration of the biosphere, and other detrimental changes in the environment.
  • What is the Geological Time Scale?
  • Earth’s history is divided into a hierarchical series of smaller chunks of time, referred to as the geologic time scale.
  • These divisions, in descending length of time, are called eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
  • These units are classified based on Earth’s rock layers, or strata, and the fossils found within them. 
  • From examining these fossilsscientists know that certain organisms are characteristic of certain parts of the geologic record. The study of this correlation is called stratigraphy.
  • Current Epoch: Officially, the current epoch is called the Holocene, which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age. 
  • Debate:
  • Scientists still debate whether the Anthropocene is different from the Holocene.
  • The term Anthropocene has not been formally adopted by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the international organization that names and defines epochs. 
  • The primary question that the IUGS needs to answer before declaring the Anthropocene an epoch is if humans have changed the Earth system to the point that it is reflected in the rock strata.
Hence option c is the correct answer.
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Which one of the following is the primary basis for dividing Earths history into units on the Geological Time Scale?a)Evolutionary changes in organismsb)Presence of human activityc)Earth’s rock layers and fossils found within themd)Climatic variations over timeCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Which one of the following is the primary basis for dividing Earths history into units on the Geological Time Scale?a)Evolutionary changes in organismsb)Presence of human activityc)Earth’s rock layers and fossils found within themd)Climatic variations over timeCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Which one of the following is the primary basis for dividing Earths history into units on the Geological Time Scale?a)Evolutionary changes in organismsb)Presence of human activityc)Earth’s rock layers and fossils found within themd)Climatic variations over timeCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Which one of the following is the primary basis for dividing Earths history into units on the Geological Time Scale?a)Evolutionary changes in organismsb)Presence of human activityc)Earth’s rock layers and fossils found within themd)Climatic variations over timeCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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