Quaternary- Pleistocene and Holocene

When is the Pleistocene

~2.6Ma-11.7kya

When is the Holocene

~11.7kya-present

What were the key events of the Pleistocene

-Cyclical glaciations and interglacials

-Evolution of iconic megafauna: Mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant ground sloths

-Human evolution: Homo erectus and later species adapt to fluctuating climates

When was the mid Pleistocene transition

~1.2-0.8 Ma

When was the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)

~26,000-19,000 years ago

What were the conditions like in the LGM

-Ice sheets were at their maximum extent

-sea levels were ~120 meters lower

-CO2 dropped to ~180 ppm (compared to interglacials ~280 ppm)

-Temperate and tropical zones cooler and drier than Greenhouse periods.

What climate are we currently in

Current interglacial: Holocene (~11,700 years ago–present) with stable CO₂ levels (~280 ppm), within natural glacial-interglacial variability.