Sedimentary records of human activities in China over the past two millennia and implications for the Anthropocene: A review

Human activities have profoundly transformed the natural environment and the Earth system, leading to the concept of the Anthropocene. This paper summarizes the effects of human activities on the environment in China as recorded in sedimentary archives. China is divided into core and marginal areas based on their natural and societal conditions, and changes in selected proxies for four stages since 2.0 ka are assessed. From 2.0 to 1.0 ka, tree pollen ratios, magnetic susceptibility values, stable organic carbon isotope ratios, and lead concentrations began to deviate from natural baseline (4.0–2.0 ka) values in the core area at different times depending on location. From 1.0 ka to 1950 CE, anthropogenic perturbations recorded by these proxies increased and exhibited regional changes in the core area. From 1950 to1980 CE, total organic carbon contents, stable organic carbon isotope ratios, total nitrogen contents, and stable nitrogen isotope ratios changed significantly in both the core and marginal areas. After 1980 CE, lead concentrations, black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contents increased rapidly. In the latter two stages, the amounts and chronologies of artificial radionuclides and novel materials in the strata reflect their history of outputs or emissions. The boundaries for each stage correspond with important historical events. At 1.0 ka, the political center of China moved eastward, and a transportation network was established in the core area. In ca. 1950 CE, the People's Republic of China was established and the Global Acceleration began, while 1980 CE corresponds with the Reform and Opening-up of China that led to an accelerated industrialization. Our review shows that transportation networks and industries were key factors for intensification of human activities that caused Earth system to enter the Anthropocene.