kvartenära

Kvartenära is the Swedish term for the Quaternary, the most recent geologic time period. It spans from about 2.58 million years ago to the present and follows the Neogene. The Quaternary is subdivided into the Pleistocene and the Holocene. The boundary at 2.58 million years ago marks the base of the Quaternary, a definition established by the International Commission on Stratigraphy. The Holocene began approximately 11,700 years ago after the last major glaciation and continues to the present day.

Subdivisions and chronology: The Pleistocene (2.58 Ma to 11,700 years ago) is characterized by repeated glaciations and the presence of large ice sheets in many regions, along with considerable climate fluctuations. The Holocene (11,700 years ago to present) is an interglacial period marked by warmer conditions, retreat of ice sheets, fluctuating sea levels, and the rapid development of human societies and agriculture.

Climate and environment: Kvartenära records strong climatic variability driven by orbital variations (Milankovitch cycles). It documents changes in biota, landscapes, and sea levels, as well as the distribution and evolution of plants and animals. The later part of the period encompasses the rise and expansion of Homo sapiens, as well as significant anthropogenic influences on ecosystems.

Significance and usage: The kvartenära is central to studies in geology, paleoclimatology, archaeology, and anthropology. It provides the framework for understanding long-term climate change, environmental change, and the recent history of humanity. The term is used in Swedish and some other European scientific literature to denote the same interval as the Quaternary.