Timeline

We cannot discuss time without a timeline. Geologists and paleontologists use a geologic timescale, set forth by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, to describe time and date events in the past. The divisions of the geologic timescale are determined by major geological, climatic, and biological events. We are currently in the Holocene epoch, Quaternary period, Cenozoic era, and Phanerozoic eon.

As the logical forward continuation of this, we have come up with a timescale of the future. The divisions of the future timescale are set at certain millions of years hence (myh) where important geological, climatic, and biological events that occur.

Time units in the geologic timescale are most commonly named after locations, usually where rocks from that unit were first studied. For example, the Devonian period is named for Devon, England. This is not applicable to the future, so the names of future time intervals are wholly arbitrary. We have decided to use county-level divisions of California as a naming theme for the Phanerozoic and political divisions of Australia for the post-Matean.

The Phanerozoic eon, which started 542 million years ago, will continue for 500 million years in the future. The future of the Phanerozoic is divided into four eras: the Cenozoic ("recent life", 0-52 myh), the Proximozoic ("next life", 52-205 myh), the Neozoic ("new life", 205-366 myh), and the Ultimozoic ("last life", 366-500 myh). Each of these eras is divided into periods, and each era begins and ends with a mass extinction event. Click on the timeline below to learn more about each period of time.

Interactive timeline

Hover over a time period to explore.

Eon Phanerozoic Necrotic Athalassic Tartaran
Era Cenozoic Proximozoic Neozoic Ultimozoic Queenslandian Tasmanian Newsouthwalesian Victorian Jervisian Norfolkian
Period Quaternary Epigene Telogene Tularean Pluman Solanan Contracostan Franciscan Delnortean Barbaran Joaquinian Humboldtian Calaveran Modoc Matean   
0 0.01 31 52 101 180 205 242 278 325 381 410 463 512 563 600 850 1200 2300 2760 3460 7590
Phanerozoic Eon
538.8 mya - 600 myh

Start definition: First appearance of the ichnogenus Treptichnus pedum
End definition: Matean-Queenslandian Extinction
Major events: Abundance and diversity of animal and plant life.
Necrotic Eon
600 - 1,200 myh

Start definition: Matean-Queenslandian Extinction
End definition: Disappearance of oceans from the surface
Major events: Heating of the earth's surface. Ceasing of plate tectonics. Collapse of CO2 and O2 levels in atmosphere. Extinction of terrestrial plants and animals.
Athalassic Eon
1,200 - 2,760 myh

Start definition: Disappearance of oceans from the surface
End definition: Last appearance of life
Major events: Extinction of multicellular life. Solidification of the outer core.
Tartaran Eon
2,760 - 7,590 myh

Start definition: Last appearance of life
End definition: Destruction of Earth by the expanding sun
Major events: Solidification of the inner core. Destruction of atmosphere.
Cenozoic Era
66 mya - 52 myh

Start definition: Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction
End definition: Telogene-Tularean Extinction
Major events: Diversification of mammals. Extensive glaciation. Human civilization.
Proximozoic Era
52 - 205 myh

Start definition: Telogene-Tularean Extinction
End definition: Zampa's Extinction
Major events: Greenhouse climate. Diversification of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Mountain-building as continents collide.
Neozoic Era
205 - 381 myh

Start definition: Zampa's Extinction
End definition: Barbaran-Joaquinian Extinction
Major events: Presence of supercontinent Pangaea Ultima. Icehouse conditions. Widespread forest growth and oxygen spike amidst photosynthetic revolution.
Ultimozoic Era
381 - 600 myh

Start definition: Barbaran-Joaquinian Extinction
End definition: Matean-Queenslandian Extinction
Major events: Rupturing of Pangaea Ultima. Continuous increase in temperatures as sun expands. CO2 levels collapse.
Quaternary Period
2.58 mya - 10 kyh

Start definition: Base of magnetic polarity chronozone C2r
End definition: Last appearance of Homo sapiens
Major events: Cenozoic Ice Age at its strength. Evolution, reign, and extinction of humans.
Epigene Period
10 kyh - 31 myh

Start definition: Last appearance of Homo sapiens
End definition: Retreat of ice caps
Major events: Recovery from Holocene Extinction. Regrowth of polar ice caps.
Telogene Period
31 - 52 myh

Start definition: Retreat of ice caps
End definition: Telogene-Tularean Extinction
Major events: Northward movement of Antarctica. Loss of polar ice sheets and resulting shift into greenhouse climate.
Tularean Period
52 - 101 myh

Start definition: Telogene-Tularean Extinction
End definition: Subduction of the Atlantic Ocean
Major events: Greenhouse climate.
Pluman Period
101 - 180 myh

Start definition: Subduction of the Atlantic Ocean
End definition: Schenker Event
Major events: Peak of Proximozoic hothouse conditions. Closure of Atlantic Ocean.
Solanan Period
180 - 205 myh

Start definition: Schenker Event
End definition: Zampa's Extinction
Major events: Brief humid period before aridification as Pangaea Ultima begins to form.
Contracostan Period
205 - 242 myh

Start definition: Zampa's Extinction
End definition: Franciscan Floral Revolution
Major events: Arid conditions globally. Diversification of neosaurs.
Franciscan Period
242 - 278 myh

Start definition: Franciscan Floral Revolution
End definition: Beginning of Neozoic Icehouse
Major events: Turnover of C3 plants. Forest growth on Pangaea Ultima.
Delnortean Period
272 - 325 myh

Start definition: Beginning of Neozoic Icehouse
End definition: Whetu Mate Impact Event
Major events: Growth of ice caps. Significant sea level drop. Atmospheric oxygen spike.
Barbaran Period
325 - 381 myh

Start definition: Whetu Mate Impact Event
End definition: Barbaran-Joaquinian Extinction
Major events: Height of Neozoic glaciation. Pangaea Ultima begins to rift, disrupting ocean currents.
Joaquinian Period
381 - 410 myh

Start definition: Barbaran-Joaquinian Extinction
End definition: Complete separation of Pangaea Ultima
Major events: Retreat of polar ice caps. High atmospheric oxygen levels.
Humboldtian Period
410 - 463 myh

Start definition: Complete separation of Pangaea Ultima
End definition: Calaveran Decarbonization Event
Major events: Rifting of remaining continents begins.
Calaveran Period
463 - 512 myh

Start definition: Calaveran Decarbonization Event
End definition: Calaveran-Modoc Extinction
Major events: Atmospheric CO2 collapse. Calaveran Glaciation.
Modoc Period
512-563 myh

Start definition: Calaveran-Modoc Extinction
End definition: Average global temperature exceeds 45 °C
Major events: Beginning of permanent hothouse conditions.
Matean Period
563 - 600 myh

Start definition: Average global temperature exceeds 45 °C
End definition: Matean-Queenslandian Extinction
Major events: Global temperature rise and aridification.