(1) The youngest geologic period; includes the present time. (2) The latest period of time in the stratigraphic column, 0 - 2 million years, represented by local accumulations of glacial (Pleistocene) and post-glacial (Holocene) deposits which continue, without change of fauna, from the top of the Pliocene (Tertiary). The quaternary appears to be an artificial division of time to separate pre-human from post-human sedimentation. As thus defined, the quaternary is increasing in duration as man's ancestry becomes longer. | Glossary home X Y Z
The period of geological time, a sub-era of the Cenozoic, which covers the last 1.6 million years; comprises the Pleistocene ("Ice Age") and the Holocene epochs to the present and is noted for numerous major ice sheet advances in the northern hemisphere. [Go to source
is the last period of Earth history, which started 1.65-1.80 mln years and lasts till present. It is divided in two epochs: Pleistocene and Holocene. On the territory of Moldovan Republic Quaternary deposits are represented by alluvium, loess and fossil soils.
The youngest of the geological periods, extending from the end of the Tertiary (qv) 1.6 million years ago up to the present. It is divided into the Pleistocene, and the Holocene which is the last 10,000 years. The Quaternary is the time of the great ice ages with widely fluctuating climates and sea levels.
a period of geologic age within the last 1.6 million years
The last 2 million years of the earth's history, corresponding approximately to the era during which the planet has been extensively glaciated. Prior to the Quaternary, glaciations were rare.
that period of geological time which began two to three million years ago and extends to the present time
The second period of the Cenozoic era, following the Tertiary; also, the corresponding system of rocks. It began two to three million years ago and extends to the present. It consists of two grossly unequal epochs: The Pleistocene, up to about 8,000 years ago, and the Holocene since that time. The Quaternary was originally designated an era rather than a period, with the epochs considered to be periods, and it is still sometimes used as such in the geologic literature. The Quaternary may also be incorporated into the Neogene, when the Neogene is designated as a period of the Tertiary era.
Period of geologic time 0-1.8 million years ago.
The second period of the Cenozoic Era from the beginning of the ice age two million years ago to present.
the second period of the Cenozoic geologic era, following the Tertiary, and including the last 2-3 million years
The second of the two Geologic Periods of the Cenozoic Era. It extends from the end of the Tertiary Period (about 1.8 million years ago) to the present. It is further divided into the Pleistocene and Holocene Epochs.
The geologic period beginning two to three million years ago and extending to the present.
coming next after the third and just before the fifth in position or time or degree or magnitude; "the quaternary period of geologic time extends from the end of the tertiary period to the present"
Period of geological time about 1.64 million years ago.
It is the uppermost part of the Cenozoic Era which extends from 1.81 million years ago to present day.
The geological period covering about 2 million years ago to the present.
the second time period of the Cenozoic era, thought to cover the last two or three million years and extending into the present.
The second period of the Cenozoic era, spanning the time between 1.8 million years ago and the present. It contains two epochs: the Pleistocene and the Holocene. It is named after the Latin word "quatern" (four at a time).
The most recent Period of the Cenozoic Era. Encompasses the time interval of 1.6 million years ago through today. more details... radiocarbon dating The age of organic material determined by the amounts of carbon isotopes 12, 13 and 14. The ratio of 12 to 14 is about the same in all living things but when a plant or animal dies, no more carbon is taken on. Carbon 12 and 13 are stable isotopes and the amounts remain the same even in dead material. Carbon 14 is an radioactive isotope that decays radioactively until none is left; . Thus, the ratio records the time elapsed since death. Since carbon 14 decays relatively rapidly, the method is only reliable for the last 40,000 years. See radiometric age.
(see Geological Timescale)
The geological period of time from about two million years ago to the present, characterised by the appearance and development of humans (consisting of the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs).
The youngest of geologic periods, subdivided into the Pleistocene and Recent epochs, the latter including the present. The term refers to geologic time and deposits.
Period of geological time covering the Holocene plus the Pleistocene. Up to 2.6 million years ago.
Quaternary. (4) Geology. Of, belonging to, or designating the geologic time, system of rocks, and sedimentary deposits of the second period of the Cenozoic Era, from the end of the Tertiary Period through the present, characterized by the appearance and development of human beings and including the Pleistocene Epoch and the Holocene Epoch.
The most recent interval of Earth history, extending from 1.8 million years ago through to the present day. The Quaternary is characterised by repeated extreme variations between glacial and inter-glacial climates.
the most recent period of geologic time
The most recent period of the Cenozoic Era which began about 2 million years ago; the two epochs of the Quaternary include the Holocene (the present epoch) and the Pleistocene, which lasted from about 2 million years ago to about 10,000 years ago
The geologic time period comprising about the last 1.65 million years.
the most recent geological period, spanning the last 1.8 million years of earth history up to and including today. It is characterized by major climatic fluctuations that resulted in a series of global ice ages. It is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene and the Holocene, with the division between these two falling at about 10,000 years before the present. Late Quaternary refers to the time between 700,000 years ago and the present day. It does not necessarily exclude the Holocene epoch.
the most recent geological era, commencing approximately 1. 8 million years ago.
The most recent period of geological time, a division of the Cenozoic;
The period of geologic time starting 1.6 million years ago and continuing to the present day. It is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene and the Holocene, with the division between these two falling at about 10,000 years before the present. Late Quaternary refers to the time between 700,000 years ago and the present day. It does not necessarily exclude the Holocene epoch. Pre-Quaternary refers to any time before 1.6 million years ago.
The most recent period of time stretching from 1.8 million years ago to today.
the present geological period, the later of the two periods making up the Cenozoic era, and including the Pleistocene and Recent epochs; the deposits made in this period. [AHDOS
The second of two periods of the Cenozoic era, lasting from 1.8 to 0.0 Ma, i.e. the present period. It follows the Tertiary period and is comprised of the Pleistocene (1.8 Ma-8000 Ya) and Holocene (8000 Ya-present) epochs. It was originally designated an era rather than a period, and the epochs periods, and is still used as such occasionally.
Of or belonging to the geologic time of the second an last period of the Cenozoic Era, characterized by the appear an ce of hum an
The Quaternary Period is the geologic time period from the end of the Pliocene Epoch roughly 1.806 million years ago to the present. The Quaternary includes 2 geologic subdivisions -- the Pleistocene and the Holocene Epochs.
