interstadial

/ˌɪntərˈsteɪdiəl/
noun
  1. A period of milder climate within a glacial period.
    • Geologists identified a distinct interstadial in the sediment layers.
    • Pollen samples from the interstadial show that grasses and shrubs were common.
    • The interstadial lasted for a few thousand years before the ice returned.
adjective
  1. Relating to a period of milder climate within a glacial period.
    • Scientists study interstadial layers in ice cores to understand past climate changes.
    • The interstadial warming allowed some animals to migrate northward temporarily.
    • During the last interstadial period, forests expanded across parts of Europe.
Antonyms