Glaciated Landscapes: Ice Ages Flashcards
1
Q
When is the quaternary period?
A
The last 2.6 million years
2
Q
What is an ice age (or glacial age)?
A
A period of the earths climate cooling, causing glaciers to expand over large areas of the earths surface
3
Q
What are the characteristics of an interglacial period?
A
A period of warmer climate between ice ages (such as our current climate)
4
Q
When did the most recent ice age end and peak?
A
It peaked about 21,000 years ago and ended about 11,500 years ago
5
Q
What causes ice ages?
A
It is not completely understood, but some important factors that control climate include the atmospheres composition, changes in the position of earth around the sun and changes in ocean currents.
