Glaciation Timeline

  • Huronian Ice Age

    One of the most severe and longest ice ages. Named for evidence collected from Lake Huron. Caused by a build up of oxygen, oxidising the atmospheric methane.
  • Period: to

    Paleoproterozoic

    2400 - 2100 Ma
  • Cryogenian Ice Age

    Glacial deposits indicate Earth suffered the most severe ice ages in history during this period.
    Debate contests whether glaciations covered the entire planet.
  • Period: to

    Neoproterozoic

    800 - 635 Ma
  • Period: to

    Dinosaurs

    Increased warming. Hight amounts of CO2.
  • Andrean-Saharan Ice Age

    Affected the Andes mountains, Arabia, the central Sahara, the lower Amazon, and Western Africa. These areas were located in what is now Antarctica.
  • Period: to

    Paleozoic

    450 - 420 Ma
  • Karoo Ice Age

    Named after the glacial tills found in the Karoo region of South Africe. It is believed to be caused by the evolution of land plants. This began a long term increase in oxygen levels which led to cooler summers.
  • Period: to

    Paleozioc

    360 - 260 Ma
  • Mass extinctions

    Quick heating. Mass extinctions of plant and animal life.
  • Quaternary Ice Age

    The current and most well-known ice age.
    Includes cycles of cooling and warming or glacial and interglacial periods.
  • Period: to

    Cenozoic

    2.58 - Present Ma
  • Last 10,000 years

    interglacial phase. Rate of warming is faster than expected.