Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last 2.7 million years

Abstract

The table provides a correlation of chronostratigraphical subdivisions of late Cenozoic geological time, spanning the last 2.7 million years. The formal division of the Quaternary is the responsibility of the IUGS International Commission on Stratigraphy’s (ICS) Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS), in partnership with the International Union for Quaternary Research’s (INQUA) Commission on Stratigraphy and Chronology (SACCOM). Previous versions of the chart (see websites1) were published as Gibbard et al. (2004, 2005) and Gibbard & Cohen (2008). Since then semi-annually updated versions have appeared on the web (e.g. Cohen & Gibbard, 2010). A major update is in progress. This 2016a version is a minor update, prepared for the 35th International Geological Congress held at Cape Town, South Africa from August 27th to September 4th 2016.