Oceanialatest

Oceanialatest is a term used to describe the most recent geological period in the history of the Earth, specifically within the Cenozoic Era. It is characterized by the ongoing formation and evolution of the modern oceans and continents. This period began approximately 66 million years ago, following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, which marked the end of the Mesozoic Era and the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.

During the Oceanialatest, the Earth's tectonic plates continued to shift and collide, leading to the formation of new mountain ranges and the opening of new ocean basins. The Atlantic Ocean, for example, began to widen as the African and South American plates moved apart. The Pacific Ocean also expanded as the Farallon Plate, which had been subducting beneath the western edge of North America, began to break apart.

The climate during the Oceanialatest has been relatively stable, with warm temperatures and high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This has led to the proliferation of a diverse range of plant and animal life, including the emergence of mammals and the evolution of birds.

The Oceanialatest is still ongoing, and scientists continue to study the Earth's geological processes and the impacts of human activity on the planet. The term is not widely recognized in scientific literature, but it is used by some geologists and educators to describe the current geological period in a more accessible and engaging way.