Ice Age

Ice Age is a term used to describe a period in Earth's history when global temperatures were significantly lower than they are today, leading to the expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. These periods are also known as glacial periods.

Overview

The term "Ice Age" is often used to refer specifically to the most recent glacial period, which occurred from about 110,000 to 12,000 years ago. However, Earth has experienced several Ice Ages throughout its history, with the earliest known occurring around 2.4 billion years ago.

During an Ice Age, the polar regions of the Earth are covered in large ice sheets. These ice sheets can extend into lower latitudes, covering large parts of the continents. The expansion of these ice sheets is driven by a combination of lower temperatures and changes in the Earth's orbit and tilt, which affect the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface.

Causes of Ice Ages

The causes of Ice Ages are not fully understood, but they are believed to be related to a combination of several factors, including changes in the Earth's orbit and tilt, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the arrangement of the continents.

Milankovitch cycles, which describe the changes in the Earth's orbit and tilt, are thought to play a key role in triggering Ice Ages. These cycles can lead to periods of reduced sunlight in the polar regions, which can trigger the growth of ice sheets.

Effects of Ice Ages

Ice Ages have had a profound impact on the Earth's climate, geography, and life. They have led to the formation of many of the Earth's current landscapes, including the Great Lakes in North America and the fjords of Norway. They have also driven the evolution and extinction of many species.

See also

• Glacial period
• Interglacial period
• Milankovitch cycles
• Pleistocene epoch

References

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