雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of the 'Anthropocene' has gained significant traction in geological and environmental circles, referring to the current geological epoch in which human activity has become the dominant influence on climate and the environment. While the term was popularized by atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen in 2000, its formal recognition as a geological epoch remains contested. Proponents argue that markers such as radioactive isotopes from nuclear tests, plastic pollution, and elevated carbon dioxide levels provide clear stratigraphic evidence of human impact. Critics, however, contend that the Anthropocene lacks a distinct and globally synchronous boundary layer, a requirement for formal geological time units. This debate underscores a deeper tension between the descriptive power of the term in capturing planetary change and its technical inadequacy within strict geological classification.