The Quaternary

• What is the Quaternary

  • The Quaternary is significant due to the knowledge of human evolution and climate changes during this time
  • The last glacial maximum occurred during the Quaternary; we have this knowledge due to the reconstructed temperatures from oxygen isotopes recorded in icesheets
• The Last Glaical Maximum

  • The LGM indicated an ice age for Earth. Where there were different sea levels, modified atmosphere circulation, larger polar ice sheets and larger temperature and wind differences

  o   Ice age landscapes still varied significantly from tropical to ice caps

  o   In Central Europe there is evidence of ice sheets and periglacial conditions
• Paleoclimate


  • Landscapes are environmental archives that informs us about past landscape and environmental conditions. Landscape reconstruction uses both climate and bio proxies  

  o   Climate proxies- Indirect indicator for past climate

  o   Bio proxies – Indicator for past flora and fauna
• Northern Landscapes - Ice Age Australia

  • Upper catchments show sandstone plateaus with evidence of waterfalls
  • Waterfalls varied from cascading to pools
  • There were also swamps on sandstone plateaus
• Central Australia - Ice Age Australia

  • Tropical moisture sources, with evidence of rivers and lakes flooding
  • In fact, Lake Eyre was much larger between 62-47 ka before it started shrinking (climate?)
• Flinders Ranges- Ice Age Australia

  • Evidence of mega lakes, with evidence of hillslope and alluvium deposits
  • Alluvial fans record the sediments transported by mountain rivers during this time
  • With the aridification of the ranges not occurring until circa. 55-38 ka
• Murray Darling Basin

  • Rivers and paleo rivers can still be seen today in this environment
  • Past evidence of channels provides information on the past discharge and sediment supply of the basin
• Coastlines - Ice Age Australia

  • Coastal ice age landscapes are now submerged off the continent, in the Southern coastal environments
• The Quaternary - Important bits

  • The Quaternary is characterised by multiple glacial and interglacial cycles, this is reflected by global temperature reductions and the expansion of the polar ice sheets
  • This resulted in sea level drop and a re-organisation of the oceanic-atmospheric circulation patterns