interglacial

[ in-ter-gley-shuhl ]

adjective

, Geology.

1. occurring or formed between times of glacial action.

interglacial

/ ˌɪntəˈɡleɪsɪəl; -ʃəl /

adjective

1. occurring or formed between periods of glacial action

noun

1. a period of comparatively warm climate between two glaciations, esp of the Pleistocene epoch

interglacial

/ ĭn′tər-glā′shəl /

Adjective

1. Occurring between glacial epochs.

Noun

1. A comparatively short period of warmth during an overall period of glaciation. Interglacials are characterized both by the melting of ice and by a change in vegetation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of interglacial¹

First recorded in 1865–70; inter- + glacial

Example Sentences

Her models incorporate data on how the creeping churning of the mantle and other geologic phenomena have altered land and sea elevation, particularly during interglacial periods when Earth’s temperatures were a few degrees higher than they are today.

From Science News

The researchers also used computer models to simulate climate conditions the plants faced during glacial and interglacial cycles.

From Popular-Science

“This is an ice age, and so a lot of the Earth’s surface was very cold at different times of the year in both the glacial and interglacial scenarios,” Matthaeus says.

From Popular-Science

We’re technically in the midst of an ice age now, living through an interglacial that started about 11,000 years ago.

From Popular-Science

The last four interglacials, according to the USGS, have lasted over approximately 20,000 years, “with the warmest portion being a relatively stable period of 10,000 to 15,000 years duration.”

From Nautilus

During the first and second interglacial epochs the climate appears to have been warmer than at present.

From Project Gutenberg

He also took up a much bolder attitude on the question of interglacial deposits and the relation of man to the Ice Age.

From Project Gutenberg

In both cases it is extremely difficult, or quite impossible, to assign the remains to definite glacial or interglacial times.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the valleys of our present rivers are but patchworks of preglacial, interglacial, and postglacial courses (Fig. 366).

From Project Gutenberg

It was followed by the Third Interglacial epoch which may have extended over at least 100,000 years.

From Project Gutenberg