The Age of Humans (Anthropocene): Satellite View of Human Activity, Climate, and Environment

Satellite imagery of Earth clearly shows large-scale products of earth systems and depictions of system interactions, often awesomely so. These orbital perspectives also commonly reveal the rapid, pervasive transformation of the surface of Earth by myriad human activities, a nod to the Anthropocene. Time-series images of specific localities demonstrate dramatic changes to settings and rapid responses of systems to human activities. This "time-lapse" imagery captures and chronicles attributes of the Great Acceleration. They document that humans have become a dominant geologic force and are a primary change agent in the Earth system. Their use serves to raise awareness and understanding as well as to captivate and motivate. Joseph Reese, Ph.D., is a full professor of Geology at PennWest Edinboro University, where he has taught courses on rock deformation and metamorphism, the tectonic history of North America, geologic hazards and energy resources since 2002. Dr. Reese holds a Ph.D. in the Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.