The geologic time scale, (GTS) is a representation of time-based on the rock record of Earth. The geologic time scale is the “calendar” for events in Earth’s history. It subdivides all time into named units of abstract time called—in descending order of duration—eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages. It is a system of chronological dating that uses chronostratigraphic and geochronology. It is primarily used by earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships of events in geologic history. The geological time scale is based on the geological rock record, which includes erosion, mountain building, and other geological events.
The little ice age was a period of bitter winter and mild summer and affected Europe and North America between the 14th and 19th centuries. The Pleistocene Epoch is best known as a time during which extensive ice sheets and other glaciers formed repeatedly on the landmasses and has been informally referred to as the ‘Great Ice Age’. We are probably living in the ice age right now, but Earth’s climate doesn’t stay cold during the entire ice age. Scientists called this age the Pleistocene Ice Age, it has been going on since about 2.5 million years ago. The role of ice sheets and atmospheric carbon dioxide causing the increase in duration and severity of ice age cycles makes difference in the little ice age and with Pleistocene ice age.
The Pleistocene ended 11,700 years ago. It is preceded by the Pliocene Epoch of the Neogene Period and is followed by the Holocene Epoch. Modern research, however, has shown that large glaciers had formed in other parts of the world earlier than 1,800,000 years ago. Modern humans, or Homo sapiens, evolved during the Pleistocene and spread across most of Earth before the period ended, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology(opens in new tab). The epoch also featured ice age giants, such as woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) and saber-toothed cats, many of which disappeared at the end of the Pleistocene in a major extinction event.
The Pleistocene was preceded by the Pliocene epoch and followed by the Holocene epoch, which we still live in today, and is part of a larger time period called the Quaternary period (2.6 million years ago to present).
