Earth Surface Dynamics during the Anthropocene

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Prof. Lang holds the John Ranking Distinguished Chair of Geography at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, since 2011. He studied and obtained his PhD at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, worked as a postdoc at the MPI for Nuclear Physics (Heidelberg) and at the University of Bonn. In 2001 he was appointed hoofdocent at the University Leuven (B), and in 2003 Chair of Physical Geography in Liverpool. He has taken responsibility at institutional level (e.g. Head of Department) and in learned societies (e.g. President EGU Geomorphology Division (2011-15); Chair, British Society for Geomorphology (2009/10)). He is frequent reviewer for funding agencies worldwide, member of multiple Scientific Committees, Editor in Chief of ‘Earth Surface Dynamics’, serves on several editorial boards, and is frequent referee for scientific journals.

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The term ‘The Anthropocene’ has seen an almost inflationary increased usage since its coinage in atmospheric chemistry. At first glance, many disciplines are attracted by the concept of an area that can be characterized by the over-riding effect that humans have had on climate and environmental change. Even the International Commission on Stratigraphy is currently considering the possible adoption of the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch.

In detail however, the term is not so easy to confine and especially the start of the period is heavily debated. Earth surface dynamics is a prime example as in many landscape humans have been the dominant force since millennia and outperforming non-human induced ‘natural’ processes by orders of magnitude. Using examples from central Europe the presentation will illustrate the spatial and temporal discontinuity of the Anthropocene and question the rigid definition of an epoch.