2.1.1

Timeline of Glacial Change

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Terminology of Glacial Change

There is specific terminology associated with glacial change that is important to remember.

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Glacial change

  • There have been long-term changes to climate and ice cover known as glacial and interglacial periods (the Pleistocene).
  • Shorter-term changes have taken place more recently during the Holocene geological period.
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Icehouse and greenhouse

  • 'Icehouse' describes a time when ice cover was present across large areas of the globe.
  • 'Greenhouse' describes when the climate was much warmer and the land was largely ice-free.
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The Pleistocene and Holocene

  • The Pleistocene was a geological time period that spans from 2.6 million to 12,000 years ago.
  • The Holocene was a geological time period that goes from 12,000 years ago to the present day.
  • Some scientists now believe that we are in a new geological age called the Anthropocene, a time where humans are the leading cause of environmental change.

Chronolgy

There have been long-term changes to climate and ice cover known as glacial and interglacial periods (the Pleistocene). Shorter-term changes have taken place more recently during the Holocene geological period.

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Chronology (time-line)

  • The Pleistocene has seen many (over 20) major climate fluctuations where the climate has changed between:
    • Glacials with colder temperatures and extensive ice cover.
    • Interglacials with warmer temperatures and less ice cover.
    • Glacials are thought to have been about 5-6oC colder than interglacials.
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Ice advance and retreat periods

  • The Loch Lomond stadial happened between 12,700 and 11,500 years ago. In this time, glaciers re-grew in the Scottish Highlands.
  • During the Little Ice Age from the 15th to 18th centuries AD, temperatures were 1oC cooler than at present and some British rivers froze (e.g. the Thames).
  • Some suggest that there was a Medieval warming before this in the 12th/13th centuries AD, when some warm-temperature crops (e.g. grapes) were grown in the British Isles.

Jump to other topics

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

4Globalisation

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

9Superpowers (A2 only)

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

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