interglacial

[ in-ter-gley-shuhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

, Geology.

interglacial

/ ˌɪntəˈɡleɪsɪəl; -ʃəl /

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

interglacial

/ ĭn′tər-glā′shəl /

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.

First recorded in 1865–70; inter- + glacial

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

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

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

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

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

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