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The Holocene (/ ˈhɒl.əsiːn, - oʊ -, ˈhoʊ.lə -, - loʊ -/) [ 2 ][ 3 ] is the current geological epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago. [ 4 ] It follows the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. [ 4 ] The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene [ 5 ] together form the Quaternary period.
The Quaternary Period follows the Neogene Period and extends to the present. The Quaternary covers the time span of glaciations classified as the Pleistocene, and includes the present interglacial time-period, the Holocene. This places the start of the Quaternary at the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation approximately 2.6 million years ago .
The formation of 3 to 4 km (1.9 to 2.5 mi) thick ice sheets equate to a global sea level drop of about 120 m (390 ft) 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. [ 1 ][ 2 ][ 3 ...
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.
The Holocene Climate Optimum (HCO) was a warm period in the first half of the Holocene epoch, that occurred in the interval roughly 9,500 to 5,500 years BP, [ 1 ] with a thermal maximum around 8000 years BP. It has also been known by many other names, such as Altithermal, Climatic Optimum, Holocene Megathermal, Holocene Optimum, Holocene ...
The current epoch is the Holocene. There are also 11 subepochs which are all within the Neogene and Quaternary. [ 2 ] The use of subepochs as formal units in international chronostratigraphy was ratified in 2022.
The Holocene extinction, or Anthropocene extinction, [3] [4] is the ongoing extinction event caused by humans during the Holocene epoch. These extinctions span numerous families of plants [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] and animals, including mammals , birds, reptiles, amphibians , fish, and invertebrates , and affecting not just terrestrial species but also ...
Stadial and interstadial. Stadials and interstadials are phases dividing the Quaternary period, or the last 2.6 million years. Stadials are periods of colder climate, and interstadials are periods of warmer climate. Each Quaternary climate phase has been assigned with a marine isotope stage (MIS) number, which describes the alternation between ...