tertiäärisistä

Tertiääriset are the third and final stage of the Tertiary period, which is part of the Cenozoic era. This period spanned from about 66 million years ago to 2.6 million years ago, following the Cretaceous period. The Tertiary period is often divided into three epochs: Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene, with the Oligocene epoch being the first of the tertiäriset.

The tertiäriset period was marked by significant geological and climatic changes. The supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart, leading to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. This tectonic activity also resulted in the uplift of mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, and the formation of new volcanic features.

Climatically, the tertiäriset period was characterized by a warm and humid climate, with lush forests covering much of the Earth's surface. This period also saw the evolution of modern mammals, birds, and flowering plants. The extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period created ecological niches that were quickly filled by various mammalian groups.

The tertiäriset period ended with the onset of the Quaternary period, which is characterized by the onset of ice ages. The boundary between the two periods is marked by a significant climatic cooling event, known as the Great American Interchange, which facilitated the migration of many plant and animal species between North and South America.

In summary, the tertiäriset period was a time of significant geological, climatic, and evolutionary change, shaping the Earth's landscape and biodiversity as we know it today.