Pleistocene era:
Began from 2.6 million years ago till 11,700 years ago
Epoch, at one point sheets of ice has covered all parts of Europe and South America, climate was much colder since most of the earth's water was frozen and global tempaertires were 5 to 10 degrees
18,000 years ago there was glacial max was reached, this was when ice was at its greatest extent and much of Northern hemisphere was buried under extensive ice
Laurentide ice sheet extended from the Arctic with its southern margin reached New York
Ice covered 75% of Canada, reached thickness of 4km
Scandanavia ice sheet extended across North Sea to the British Isles and reached London
In the northern hemisphere water was locked up in glaciers
Tectonic activity
Convection currents travelling around the equator were cut off by North and South America colliding
Warm water Brough moisture into northern hemisphere which meant more formation of snow and ice cover
Significant event in onset of Pleistocene era 2.6 million years ago