Quaternary

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/quaternary

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geologic time scale placement?The most recent period of the Cenozoic Era and the Phanerozoic Eon
2. What is the chronological span?Approximately 2.6 million years ago to the present
3. What is the Quaternary period?The Quaternary is Earth's newest geological period, lasting from about 2.6 million years ago until today. It is known for big climate swings and huge ice sheets that covered parts of the world.
4. Why were there ice sheets during the Quaternary?Ice sheets grew and shrank during the Quaternary because of Milankovitch cycles—small changes in Earth’s orbit that affect how much sunlight different parts of the planet receive.

Cenozoic Era: The current geological era, following the Mesozoic, often referred to as the 'Age of Mammals'.
Milankovitch Cycles: Long-term variations in Earth's orbital parameters that influence solar radiation received and drive glacial-interglacial cycles.
Glacial Epoch: A period characterized by the extensive presence of glaciers and ice sheets on continents.
Interglacial Period: A warmer interval between glacial epochs, characterized by the retreat of ice sheets.