Quaternary

The Quaternary is the geologic period from about 2.58 million years ago to the present, marked by repeated glaciations and the evolution and spread of humans.

Milankovitch cycles: Long-term variations in Earth’s orbit and axial orientation that alter the distribution of incoming sunlight. These cycles paced many Quaternary glacial and interglacial shifts.
Pleistocene: The Quaternary epoch lasting from about 2.58 million years ago to 11,700 years ago. It contains the major glacial cycles that characterize most of the Quaternary.
Ice core: A cylinder of ice drilled from a glacier or ice sheet that preserves layers and trapped atmospheric samples. Ice cores provide dated records of Quaternary temperatures and greenhouse gases.
Homo sapiens: The living species of humans, originating in Africa during the Pleistocene. Our species evolved and dispersed during the Quaternary.
Glacial landform: A landscape feature created by the erosion or deposition of glacier ice. Quaternary glaciers carved and deposited many recognizable landforms.
Pleistocene glaciation: The recurring expansion of continental ice sheets during the Pleistocene Epoch. Its repeated ice advances define much of the Quaternary’s climate record.
Holocene: The current geological epoch, beginning about 11,700 years ago after the last glacial period. It is the interglacial epoch occupying the latest part of the Quaternary.
Pollen analysis: The study of fossil pollen to identify past vegetation and reconstruct environmental change. Quaternary pollen records track how ecosystems responded to climate shifts.
Homo erectus: An extinct human species that lived across Africa and Eurasia during much of the Pleistocene. Its long history spans major Quaternary migrations and environmental transitions.
Loess: A wind-deposited sediment composed chiefly of silt, often derived from glacial environments. Quaternary dust deposits formed fertile soils and preserved climate records.

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