摘要
我们探讨人类世的发展。人类世是当前世,在此期间人类及人类社会成为全球性的地球物理作用力。人类世开始于1800年左右,工业化开始之际,重要特征是矿物燃料极其广泛的使用。我们用大气CO_2浓度作为唯一的、简单的指标来追溯人类世的行进过程。前工业化时代的大气CO_2浓度为270～275 ppm,到1950年上升至大约310ppm。从此,人类事业经历了一个显著的爆发——大加速时期,对地球系统功能带来了明显的后果。自1950年以来,大气CO_2浓度从310ppm升至380ppm,自前工业化时代以来总上升值的大约一半发生在最后区区30年间。大加速即将达到临界状态。无论将来呈现的是何等景象,未来几十年肯定是人类世演进过程中的一个转折点。
We explore the development of the Anthropocene,the current epoch in which humans and our societies have become a global geophysical force.The Anthropocene began around 1800 with the onset of industrialization,the central feature of which was the enormous expansion in the use of fossil fuels.We use atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration as a single,simple indicator to track the progression of the Anthropocene.From a preindustrial value of 270-275 ppm,atmospheric carbon dioxide had risen to about 310 ppm by 1950.Since then the human enterprise has experienced a remarkable explosion,the Great Acceleration,with significant consequences for Earth System functioning. Atmospheric CO_2 concentration has risen from 310 to 380 ppm since 1950, with about half of the total rise since the preindustrial era occurring in just the last 30 years.The Great Acceleration is reaching criticality.Whatever unfolds, the next few decades will surely be a tipping point in the evolution of the Anthropocene.
