Ice age
Ice Age
The Ice Age (pronounced: /ˈaɪs eɪdʒ/) is a period of long-term reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers.
Etymology
The term "Ice Age" comes from the scientific Latin glaciārium aetās, which translates to "age of ice". It was first used in the 19th century by scientists to describe the series of widespread expansions of ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.
Definition
An Ice Age is defined by the long-term presence of significant amounts of surface ice on both land and sea. This includes the growth of glaciers, ice sheets, and ice caps. The most recent Ice Age, known as the Quaternary glaciation, began 2.6 million years ago and is ongoing today.
Related Terms
- Glaciation: The process of becoming covered by glaciers.
- Pleistocene: The geological epoch from about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the world's most recent period of repeated glaciations.
- Holocene: The current geological epoch, which began after the Pleistocene, about 11,700 years ago.
- Interglacial: A period of warmer global average temperature that separates consecutive glacial periods within an ice age.
- Glacial period: A period of time within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances.
- Interglacial period: A period of time within an ice age that is marked by warmer temperatures and glacier retreats.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ice age
- Wikipedia's article - Ice age
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