Glaciation

/ɡleɪʃiˈeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process of being covered by glaciers and ice sheets, or the geological period when glaciers dominated a region.

Etymology

From glaciate with the suffix -ion forming a noun. Describes both the process of glaciers forming and advancing, and the historical periods when they dominated.

Kelly Says

Earth has experienced multiple glaciation cycles—we're currently in an interglacial period (between ice ages), but without human greenhouse gases, we'd likely enter another glaciation in several thousand years!

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