kvartära

Kvartära, in Swedish usage, refers to the Quaternary period of the geologic time scale. It is the most recent major division of the Cenozoic Era, spanning from about 2.58 million years ago to the present. The term is used both as a noun (the kvartär) and as an adjective (kvartär-/kvartärt) to describe rocks, deposits, climates, and biological and archaeological contexts from this interval.

Subdivisions and timing are central to kvartära research. The period comprises two epochs: the Pleistocene and the Holocene. The Pleistocene is characterized by repeated glaciations and interglacials, including cycles of advance and retreat of continental ice sheets. The Holocene began after the last major Ice Age, roughly 11,700 years ago, and covers the development of human civilizations, agriculture, and many recent ecological changes.

Geological and environmental significance. Kvartäravlagringar include glacial tills and moraines, varves, loess deposits, and riverine sediments. The period is studied using a range of dating and proxy methods, such as radiometric dating, radiocarbon dating, paleomagnetism, pollen analysis, and ice-core records. These data illuminate global and regional climate changes, sea-level fluctuations, and the distribution and evolution of flora and fauna.

Human context. Kvartären is notable for the emergence and expansion of Homo sapiens, the domestication of plants and animals, and substantial cultural and technological advances. The complex climate history of the kvartärtiden has profoundly influenced landscapes, resource availability, and human societies across continents.

See also: Quaternary, Pleistocene, Holocene.