1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910298392103321

Autore

Glikson Andrew Y

Titolo

Evolution of the Atmosphere, Fire and the Anthropocene Climate Event Horizon [[electronic resource] /] / by Andrew Y. Glikson

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Dordrecht : , : Springer Netherlands : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2014

ISBN

94-007-7332-3

Edizione

[1st ed. 2014.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (177 p.)

Collana

SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences, , 2191-5369

Disciplina

551.5

Soggetti

Physical geography

Climate change

Archaeology

Anthropology

Human geography

Earth System Sciences

Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts

Human Geography

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Early atmosphere-biosphere systems -- Palaeozoic and Mesozoic atmospheres -- Cenozoic atmospheres and early Hominins -- A flammable biosphere -- Homo Prometheus: a fire species -- Climate and Holocene civilizations -- Homo sapiens’ war against nature -- An uncharted climate territory -- Homo Prometheus.

Sommario/riassunto

Unique among all creatures, further to the increase in its cranial volume from Australopithecus to Homo sapiens, the use of tools and cultural and scientific creativity, the genus Homo is distinguished by the mastery of fire, which since about two million years ago has become its blueprint.  Through the Holocene and culminating in the Anthropocene, the burning of much of the terrestrial vegetation, excavation and combustion of fossil carbon from up to 420 million years-old biospheres, are leading to a global oxidation event on a geological scale, a rise in entropy in nature and the sixth mass extinction of species.