Defining the Quaternary |
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| Authors: | Brad Pillans Tim Naish |
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| Institution: | aResearch School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT0200, Australia;bInstitute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 30 368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand |
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| Abstract: | The Quaternary System is under threat of extinction as a chronostratigraphic unit in the international Geological Time Scale. In its place, the Neogene System (previously comprising Miocene and Pliocene Series), is to be extended to include the Pleistocene and Holocene Series. It may be possible to “save” the Quaternary by defining it as a Subsystem of the Neogene. In doing so, it would be an opportune time to extend the base of the Quaternary to 2.6 Ma to encompass the time during which (1) Earth's climate has been strongly influenced by bi-polar glaciation, and (2) the genus Homo first appeared and evolved. |
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