Late Proterozoic African glacial era

Abstract

A series of large-scale glaciations occurring in the second half of the Late Riphean and Vendian are referred to as the African Glacial Era (Glacioera), which was separated from the preceding Huronian Glacioera by an interglacial of 1.5 Gyr. Six large discrete glacial events (glacioperiods) repeating each 30–50 Myr, occurred during the African Glacioera. The following glacioperiods (in geochronological succession) are recognized: Kaigas, Rapitan, Sturtian, Marinoan, Gaskiers, and Baykonur. Most glacioperiods included several discrete glaciation episodes. Glaciations were accompanied by repeated biosphere change and crises. The dynamic coevolution of climate and biosphere at the end of the Proterozoic facilitated an accelerated development of Earth’s biota, which culminated in the appearance and divergence of multicellular and skeletal fauna. The African Glacioera terminated the Proterozoic and was the time when the Phanerozoic climatic system and the biosphere were forming on the Earth.