Article
Episodes 2008; 31(2): 234-238
Published online June 1, 2008
https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/2008/v31i2/009
Copyright © International Union of Geological Sciences.
The Quaternary: its character and definition
Martin J. Head1, Philip Gibbard2, Amos Salvador3
1Department of Earth Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada. Email: mjhead@brocku.ca
2Cambridge Quaternary, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, United Kingdom.
3Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, U.S.A.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The Quaternary is characterised by the development of widespread glaciations in mid-northern latitudes. As a chronostratigraphic term it has attracted vigorous debate. The Quaternary, as accepted by the International Union for Quaternary Research and proposed by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, begins at 2.6 Ma within a 2.8–2.4 Ma interval of profound change in Earth’s climate system. The base of the Gelasian Stage at 2.588 Ma offers an existing global stratotype section and point to define the base-Quaternary, and this will necessitate lowering the base of the Pleistocene from its current 1.8 Ma to that of the Quaternary to maintain hierarchical order. This proposal recognises the distinctive qualities of the Quaternary, complies strictly with the hierarchical requirements of the geological time scale, and respects the historical and widespread current usage of the term Quaternary.