Eons are the largest divisions, followed by eras, periods, epochs, and ages. Similarly, the boundary between the Holocene and the proposed Anthropocene is being searched for in sediment layers, where the rise in plastics, concrete, and fossil fuel byproducts will likely leave an indelible chemical signature for future geologists to find.
Environmental Context Within the Cenozoic Era and Quaternary Period
We are part of the Cenozoic Era, which means "recent life," and this era is further subdivided into periods. The most prominent of these is the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) in Varna, Italy, which marks a significant cooling event and the first appearance of certain cold-water marine fossils around 2.
Before the Quaternary, the Cretaceous period, famous for its dinosaurs, had ended, and the Tertiary period, now officially replaced by the Paleogene and Neogene periods, preceded this dynamic new interval. This period is defined by a relatively stable and warm climate that allowed human civilizations to flourish, develop agriculture, and build cities.
Environmental Context in the Present Day Deep Time
6 million years ago and continuing to the present. When asking what geological period are we in , the immediate answer is the Quaternary.
More About What geological period are we in
Looking at What geological period are we in from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on What geological period are we in can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
