Glacial Extent in the Cryogenian Period: How Far South Did Glaciers Go?

During the last glacial maximum approximately 20,000 years ago, extensive ice sheets extended southward, covering large portions of North America, Europe, and Asia. This period of significant glaciation involved:

Extent of Glaciers in North America

In North America, the ice sheets reached as far as:

Northern United States

Glaciers extended down to parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and as far south as the Ohio River Valley. This southernmost extent of glaciation underscores the vast reach of ice during the last glacial maximum.

The Great Lakes Region

The Laurentide Ice Sheet, one of the largest ice sheets of the last glacial maximum, covered much of Canada and the northern United States, including the Great Lakes. Its massive presence transformed the landscape, profoundly altering the topography of these regions.

Northern Europe

In Northern Europe, the Scandinavian Ice Sheet extended into northern Germany and the British Isles. This vast sheet covered much of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, showing the far-reaching impact of glaciation.

The Last Glacial Maximum in Context

During the last ice age, which experienced advances and retreats every 100,000 years, the Earth was approaching its maximum ice stage. This period involved a cooling trend followed by ice accumulation, leading to significant advances of ice sheets towards the equator, covering substantial portions of Europe and North America.

The last glacial maximum represents the furthest advancement of glaciers during the current geological epoch. In North America, the ice sheets extended from the Hudson Bay area, covering virtually all of Canada and reaching as far south as Illinois and Missouri. Even in higher elevations, localized glaciers were found as far south as the Sierra Nevada region.

Glacial Extent in the Cryogenian Period

During the Cryogenian period, which occurred approximately 720 to 635 million years ago, glaciers reached even further south. Studies by M. Hofmann and others have revealed that glacial ice sheets extended into areas that would have been considered equatorial regions earlier in Earth’s history.

Notably, in North America, glacial ice extended from the Hudson Bay area, covering most of Canada and going as far as Illinois and Missouri. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Antarctic saw extensive glaciation, covering about 30 percent of Earth’s surface. In the UK, glacial ice extended as far south as London, indicating the extreme nature of glaciers during the Cryogenian period.

The Cryogenian period remains a fascinating period of Earth’s history, marked by extensive glaciation that significantly impacted the planet’s climate and geography. Understanding these past glacial events helps us better comprehend the climatic forces that shape our planet and provides valuable insights into future climate change scenarios.