Cenozoic Era

The Cenozoic Era makes up the past 66 million years. Humans evolved during this period

Cooling trend Earth remained warm from the Mesozoic Era to the early epoch of the Cenozoic Era. As Antarcitica split apart Austriliia during the Eocene period, the climate began cooling

Antarctica splits from Australia Took place during the Eocene Period (55.8 – 33.9 mya) Climate began to cool, due to ocean currents When they were together warm water flowed through the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian moderating Antarctica’s temperature.

Antarctica splits from Australia As Antarctica settled over the south pole cold current began to flow around it, and a perment ice cap began to grow in the Oligocene Period (33.9 – 23 mya)

Miocene Warming During the Miocene Period (23 – 5 mya), the climate began to warm again. Early Miocene Period, ice caps melted at both ends of the poles. Late Miocene Period, ice caps stopped melting, and Arctic Ocean began to freeze, leading to the Ice Ages

Ice Ages Started in late Pliocene Period (5 – 1.8 mya). Glaciers covered northern parts of North America & Europe, parts of Asia & South American and all of Antarctica. Glaciers carved out lakes & valleys, dropped huge boulders and left behind large amounts of clay, sand, and gravel

Cenozoic Mountain Building During the Mesozoic Era the Rocky Mountains formed. During the Cenozoic Era erosion wore down the Rockies. This eroded sediment is mined for coal, and contains preserved fossils, of fish, insects, plants and birds.

38 million year old fossil bird found in Wyoming