ice age

Also known as glacial epoch

period of long-term reduction in temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere

AI overview

An ice age is a long period when Earth's overall temperature drops significantly, causing ice sheets and glaciers to expand across much of the planet. Understanding ice ages matters because they shaped our planet's geography and climate patterns, and studying them helps scientists better understand how Earth's climate can change dramatically over time.

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Wikidata facts

Image: Iceage north-intergl glac hg.png

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Commons category: Ice ages

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Article

An artist's impression of ice age Earth at Pleistocene glacial maximum

An ice age is a period of time when the lower temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere results in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. The term is applied in several different senses to very long and comparatively short periods of cooling. Colder periods are called glacials or ice ages, and warmer periods are called interglacials.