What is the anthropocene? a. the name given for the span of time from the eocene to the present studied by physical anthropologists b. the epoch between the miocene and pliocene, during which modern humans emerged c. the epoch during which anthropoids emerged from early primates d. a proposed new geological epoch during which humans have a profound role in changing the planet’s land surface and atmosphere

D. A proposed new geological epoch during which humans have a profound role in changing the planet's land surface and atmosphere

Explanation:

Geologists have divided the history of the planet in several categories (eons, eras, periods, epochs and ages), since it was formed till our present times. There are different categories and each respond to a number of characteristics, depending on what they contain, for example, the time in Earth that didn't contain any life form and the time after the first life form emerge, times in Earth that represents an important change in global living (glaciations, the increase of the global tempeture, a new environment, etc), the period of the Dinosaurs or when the Homo Sapiens evolved.

In general, this categories are based in paleontological, climatic and stratigraphic/geological evidence. The combination of these leads to the formation of each category and each one describes a major event in Earth that changed the scenary of living in a big scale.

The Anthropocene is a proposed new category that represents our present time. The evolution of Homo Sapiens created a huge impact in Earth, specially after the Industrial Revolution, where the impact intensified. The humans have modify the environment in ways never thought before: fabrics polluting the air and rivers, mountains and hills modified in order to live, to raise animals or to cultivate vegetables, the extinction of several animal species (due to human actions), tons of land and minerals removed from all around the glove and the increasing overpopulation are just a few examples that the specialist are using to define this new geological epoch.