Late Cenozoic Ice Age

This article is about the history of Earth's polar ice caps over the last 33.9 million years. For the glacial period lasting from 115,000 to 11,700 years ago, see Last Glacial Period.
Late Cenozoic Ice Age
33.9 million years ago to present
Divisions within the current ice age
For divisions prior to 33.9 million years ago, see Geologic time scale
Period Epoch Age
↑ Paleogene Oligocene
33.9 to 23.03 Ma
(last epoch of the Paleogene Period)
Pyrotherium romeroi and Rhynchippus equinus, Oligocene of South America
Pyrotherium romeroi and Rhynchippus equinus, Oligocene of South America
 Rupelian
33.9 to 27.82 Ma
Chattian
27.82 to 23.03 Ma
Neogene Miocene
23.03 to 5.333 Ma
Socotra Dragon Tree
Socotra Dragon Tree
 Aquitanian
23.03 to 20.44 Ma
Burdigalian
20.44 to 15.98 Ma
Langhian
15.98 to 13.82 Ma
Serravallian
13.82 to 11.63 Ma
Tortonian
11.63 to 7.246 Ma
Messinian
7.246 to 5.333 Ma
Pliocene
5.333 to 2.58 Ma
Pliocene at the beginning of humans
Pliocene at the beginning of humans
 Zanclean
5.333 to 3.6 Ma
Piacenzian
3.6 to 2.58 Ma
Quaternary Pleistocene
2.58 Ma to 11.7 ka[1][a]
Columbian mammoth, Pleistocene North America
Columbian mammoth, Pleistocene North America
 Gelasian
2.58 to 1.8 Ma
Calabrian
1.8 Ma to 774 ka[1][4]
Middle Pleistocene ("Chibanian")
("Ionian")
774 to 129 ka[1]
Upper/Late Pleistocene ("Tarantian")
129 to 11.7 ka[1]
Holocene
11.7 ka to present[1][a]
 Greenlandian
11.7 to 8.2 ka[1]
Northgrippian
8.2 to 4.2 ka[1]
Meghalayan
4.2 ka to present[1]

The Late Cenozoic Ice Age falls within the Cenozoic Era which started 66 million years ago. The Cenozoic Era is part of the Phanerozoic Eon which started ~538.8 million years ago.

  1. ^ a b In standard nomenclature the Pleistocene Epoch lasts from 2.58 Ma to 11.7 ka and the Holocene epoch lasts from 11.7 ka to present. However, it is disputed whether these should in fact be treated separately, or whether the "Holocene" is in fact merely a Pleistocene interglacial.[2][3] See below for details.

The Late Cenozoic Ice Age,[5][6] or Antarctic Glaciation,[7][8] began 34 million years ago at the Eocene-Oligocene Boundary and is ongoing.[5] It is Earth's current ice age or icehouse period. Its beginning is marked by the formation of the Antarctic ice sheets.[9]

Six million years after the start of the Late Cenozoic Ice Age, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet had formed, and 14 million years ago it had reached its current extent.[10]

In the last three million years, glaciations have spread to the northern hemisphere. It commenced with Greenland becoming increasingly covered by an ice sheet in late Pliocene (2.9-2.58 Ma ago)[11] During the Pleistocene Epoch (starting 2.58 Ma ago), the Quaternary glaciation developed with decreasing mean temperatures and increasing amplitudes between glacials and interglacials. During the glacial periods of the Pleistocene, large areas of northern North America and northern Eurasia have been covered by ice sheets.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "2023/09 Geologic Time Scale". International Commission on Stratigraphy. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  2. ^ de Blij, Harm (2012-08-17). "Holocene Humanity". Why Geography Matters: More Than Ever. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199977253.
  3. ^ "Neogene HSU NHM". Humboldt State University.
  4. ^ "Calabrian Stage". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  5. ^ a b Dr. David E. Pitts. "Disasters Class Notes - Chapter 12: Climate Change". University of Houston-Clear Lake. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. ^ National Academy of Sciences - The National Academies Press - Continental Glaciation through Geologic Times https://www.nap.edu/read/11798/chapter/8#80
  7. ^ Kvasov, D.D.; Verbitsky, M.Ya. (2017). "Causes of Antarctic Glaciation in the Cenozoic". Quaternary Research. 15: 1–17. doi:10.1016/0033-5894(81)90110-1. S2CID 129673672.
  8. ^ Goldner, A.; Herold, N.; Huber, M. (2014). "Antarctic glaciation caused ocean circulation changes at the Eocene–Oligocene transition". Nature. 511 (7511): 574–577. Bibcode:2014Natur.511..574G. doi:10.1038/nature13597. PMID 25079555. S2CID 4460503.
  9. ^ "8". Continental Glaciation through Geologic Times. 1982. p. 80. doi:10.17226/11798. ISBN 978-0-309-03329-9. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference rapid was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Bartoli, G; Sarnthein, M; Weinelt, M; Erlenkeuser, H; Garbe-Schönberg, D; Lea, D.W (2005). "Final closure of Panama and the onset of northern hemisphere glaciation". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 237 (1–2): 33–44. Bibcode:2005E&PSL.237...33B. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2005.06.020.