Interglacial

An interglacial is a period of warmer climate between glacial periods. These warmer intervals are a natural part of Earth's long-term climate cycles. During an interglacial, ice sheets and glaciers that formed during the preceding glacial period retreat significantly, leading to a rise in global sea levels. The Earth's average temperature increases, and ecosystems often shift towards warmer-adapted flora and fauna. These periods are characterized by significantly less ice cover compared to glacial stages. The current geological epoch, the Holocene, which began approximately 11,700 years ago, is an interglacial period. Interglacials are typically shorter than glacial periods, although their duration can vary. Scientists study past interglacials through geological evidence, such as ice cores, sediment layers, and fossil records, to understand the mechanisms driving these climate shifts and to better predict future climate change. The end of an interglacial is marked by the onset of a new glacial period, where temperatures begin to drop and ice sheets start to grow again.