Oita Prefecture, which is a candidate site for Japan, is being surveyed for candidate sites around the world in an attempt to select a stratum that symbolizes the prosperous era of humankind and geologically create a new era division called "Anthropocene." A group such as the University of Tokyo announced that it was able to detect a very small amount of plutonium, which is considered to be an important indicator, in the geological formations of Oita, and said that it is a big step toward selection.
The Anthropocene is one of 12 candidate sites in the world where a group of international academic societies select geological formations that symbolize the prosperous times of humankind and make them into new geological periods. You are supposed to choose a location.
Research groups such as Professor Yusuke Yokoyama of the University of Tokyo and Ehime University investigated the submarine strata of Beppu Bay in Oita Prefecture, which is a candidate site for Japan, and as a trace of human activity, fell to the whole world by a nuclear test. We announced that we were able to detect a very small amount of plutonium.
The analysis shows that the concentration of plutonium increased in the strata of the 1950s when nuclear tests were repeated, and decreased after the tests were restricted by treaties, etc., reflecting the global impact of human activities. It's done and it's a big step forward to be selected.
Professor Yokoyama of the University of Tokyo said, "With global climate change becoming a major issue, I hope that by deciding the Anthropocene geologically, we will deepen discussions on the coexistence of humans and nature." Was there.