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The Quaternary glaciation, also known as the Pleistocene glaciation, is an alternating series of glacial and interglacial periods during the Quaternary period that began 2.58 Ma (million years ago) and is ongoing.
The Earth is currently in such an interglacial period of the Quaternary glaciation, with the Last Glacial Period of the Quaternary having ended approximately 11,700 years ago. The current interglacial is known as the Holocene epoch. [1] Based on climate proxies, paleoclimatologists study the different climate states originating from glaciation.
At this time, it was incorrectly presumed that the Yarmouth Paleosol formed during a single interglacial stage, which separated a younger glacial stage, the Illinoian Glaciation represented by the sediments of the Glasford Formation in Illinois, and the glacial deposits of an older glacial stage called the "Kansan Glaciation". [1] [2] [3] [4]
Kansan glaciation was used by early geomorphologists and Quaternary geologists to subdivide glacial and nonglacial deposits within north-central United States from youngest to oldest and are as follows: Wisconsin (glacial) Sangamonian (interglacial) Illinoian (glacial) Yarmouthian (interglacial) Kansan (glacial) Aftonian (interglacial ...
The Quaternary is also divided into alternating stadials (colder periods) and interstadials (warmer periods) The last stadial reached its peak in the Last Glacial Maximum, between 26,000 and 20,000 years ago, and the Earth is now in an interstadial. The oscillation between glacial and interglacial periods is due to the Milankovitch cycles ...
Quaternary glaciation began in the Alps 870,000 years ago and advanced to the Alpine Foreland 650,000 years ago. In the Alps, the four glaciations are known by the names of Bavarian rivers: Gunz, Mindel, Riss and Wurm. The Wurm glaciation is the most recent and best preserved, ending 11,700 years ago.
A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate between glacial periods. The Last Glacial Period ended about 15,000 years ago. [1]
Quaternary geology is the branch of geology that study developments from 2.58 million years ago to the present. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] In particular, Quaternary geology study the process and deposits that developed during the Quaternary , a period characterized by glacial - interglacial cycles.