What is Quaternary?
The '''Quaternary''' is the current [[geology|geological]] [[Period (geology)|period]]. It is the most recent of the three periods of the [[Cainozoic]] [[era]]. The Quaternary follows the [[Neogene]], which is the second period of the Cainozoic. [[File:Siegsdorfer Mammut.jpg|thumb|270px|The [[woolly mammoth]] is an animal that lived in the Quaternary. It illustrates the generally cold climate of the period.]] The Quaternary began about 2.6 million years ago, and continues today. A great deal of information is considered when geologists discuss the timing of periods.<ref>Gibbard P.L. ''et al'' 2007. [http://www.quaternary.stratigraphy.org.uk/correlation/POSTERSTRAT_v2007b_small.jpg ''Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last 2.7 million years v. 2007b.''], jpg version 844 KB. Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.</ref> The status of the Quaternary as a period is confirmed by the ''International Commission on Stratigraphy'' (ICS). In the Quarternary were the [[glaciation]]s known as the [[Ice Age]]. Also, [[Homo sapiens|anatomically modern humans]] [[evolved]]. During the Quaternary, many large [[mammal]]ian [[species]] became [[extinct]]. This was due to [[climate change]] and [[hunting]] by humans.<ref>Martin P.S. and Klein R.G. eds 1984. ''Quaternary extinctions: a prehistoric revolution''. Arizona, Tucson AZ.</ref> The Quaternary includes two geologic [[Epoch (geology)|epochs]]: *[[Pleistocene]] *[[Holocene]] Changes in Earth's climate is caused by slight changes in the Earth's orbit round the Sun,<ref> J Imbrie & JZ Imbrie 1980. Modeling the climatic response to orbital variations. ''Science''. '''207''' (4434): 943–953. Bibcode:1980Sci...207..943I. doi:10.1126/science.207.4434.943. PMID 17830447. S2CID 7317540</ref> and by the tilt of the Earth's [[Axis of rotation|axis]]. == References == {{Reflist}} {{Geologic History}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Cainozoic]]