Sediment flux and the Anthropocene
Abstract
Data and computer simulations are reviewed to help better define the timing and magnitude of human influence on sediment flux—the Anthropocene epoch. Impacts on the Earth surface processes are not spatially or temporally homogeneous. Human influences on this sediment flux have a secondary effect on floodplain and delta-plain functions and sediment dispersal into the coastal ocean. Human impact on sediment production began 3000 years ago but accelerated more widely 1000 years ago. By the sixteenth century, societies were already engineering their environment. Early twentieth century mechanization has led to global signals of increased sediment flux in most large rivers. By the 1950s, this sediment disturbance signal reversed for many rivers owing to the proliferation of dams, and sediment load reduction below pristine conditions is the dominant signal today. A delta subsidence signal began in the 1930s and is now a dominant signal in terms of sea level for many coastal environments, overwhelming even the global warming imprint on sea level. Humans have engineered how most water and sediment are discharged into the coastal ocean. Hyperpycnal flow events have become more common for some rivers, and less common for other rivers. Bottom trawling is now widespread, suggesting that even continental shelves have received a significant but as yet quantified Anthropocene impact. The Anthropocene attains the level of a geological climate event, such as that seen in the transition between the Pleistocene and the Holocene.
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Reduced sediment flux to major deltas, combined with increasing extraction of groundwater, hydrocarbons and sediments, has caused many large deltas to subside, a process beginning in the 1930s at rates faster than modern eustatic sea-level rise.
“The reduced sediment flux to major deltas, combined with increasing extraction of groundwater, hydrocarbons and sediments (for aggregates), has caused many large deltas to subside, a process beginning in the 1930's ( 43 ) at rates faster than modern eustatic sea-level rise (see below).”
From The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene (2016) · cites this paper as [43]
Human use of land causes major global changes in biodiversity, biogeochemistry, geomorphic processes, and climate.
“Human populations and their use of land have now transformed ecosystem pattern and process across most of the terrestrial biosphere (1, 2), causing major global changes in biodiversity (3), biogeochemistry (4–6), geomorphic processes (7), and climate (8).”
From Used planet: a global history (2013) · cites this paper as [7]
Direct human alterations of geomorphology and hydrology, including irrigation systems and other earthworks, together with changes in the rates and spatial patterns of soil erosion and sedimentation rates in terrestrial, coastal, and lacustrine environments, are useful indicators of human use of land.
“Direct human alterations of geomorphology and hydrology, including irrigation systems and other earthworks, are also useful indicators of human use of land, together with changes in the rates and spatial patterns of soil erosion and sedimentation rates in terrestrial, coastal, and lacustrine environments (7).”
From Used planet: a global history (2013) · cites this paper as [7]
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“The reduced sediment flux to major deltas, combined with increasing extraction of groundwater, hydrocarbons, and sediments (for aggregates), has caused many large deltas to subside more quickly, a process beginning in the 1930s (43) at rates faster than modern eustatic sea-level rise.”
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- Authors
- Syvitski, J. P. M., & Kettner, A.
- Affiliations
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (US)
- Venue
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2011-03-13
- Volume
- 369
- Issue
- 1938
- Pages
- 957-975
- ISSN
- 1364-503X (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2962
- OpenAlex
- W2144210348
- Cited by
- 628
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 39.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Geological formations and processes
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Keywords
- sediment flux, Anthropocene, sediment load reduction, dams, delta subsidence, hyperpycnal flows, bottom trawling, continental shelf sedimentation, river sedimentation, mechanization, sea-level change
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