Holotsään

Holotsään is a Finnish term that translates to "holocene climate" or "climate of the Holocene epoch." It refers to the climatic conditions that have prevailed on Earth since the end of the last glacial period, approximately 11,700 years ago. This epoch is characterized by a generally warmer and more stable climate compared to the preceding Pleistocene, which was dominated by ice ages.

The Holocene climate has experienced fluctuations, including periods of warming and cooling, but these variations have been less extreme than those of the glacial periods. Key features of the Holocene climate include the development of agriculture, the rise of human civilizations, and significant changes in vegetation and ecosystems. The Holocene is the current geological epoch in which we live, and its climatic conditions have been conducive to the flourishing of human societies and biodiversity.

Scientists study past Holocene climates through various proxy records, such as ice cores, tree rings, ocean sediments, and fossil evidence. These records help reconstruct temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric composition over time, providing insights into natural climate variability and the factors that influence it. Understanding the Holocene climate is crucial for contextualizing current climate change and predicting future climate scenarios.