Pleistocene
Pleistocene
Pleistocene (/ˈplaɪstəˌsiːn/; often colloquially referred to as the Ice Age) is a geological epoch that lasted from about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the world's most recent period of repeated glaciations.
Etymology
The term Pleistocene is derived from the Greek words pleistos (meaning "most") and kainos (meaning "new").
Definition
The Pleistocene is the first epoch of the Quaternary period in the geologic timescale, following the Pliocene epoch and preceding the Holocene epoch. The Pleistocene covers a period of time when the Earth's climate was cooler and often included periods of glaciation, which are commonly referred to as 'Ice Ages'.
Related Terms
- Glaciation: The process, condition, or result of being covered by glaciers or ice sheets.
- Epoch (geology): A division of time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself subdivided into ages, corresponding to a series in chronostratigraphy.
- Quaternary: A period in the geologic timescale, encompassing the most recent 2.6 million years, including the present day.
- Pliocene: An epoch in the geologic timescale, preceding the Pleistocene.
- Holocene: The current geological epoch, which began approximately 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pleistocene
- Wikipedia's article - Pleistocene
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