The hypothesis
The snowball Earth hypothesis (SEH) suggests that the Earth experienced surface temperatures so low that virtually its entire surface was covered by glaciers and/or thick sea ice periodically during its early history. Such a condition has been hypothesized for parts of the Neoproterozoic Era from about 750 million years ago (Ma) to about 600 Ma (Figure S21). A similar frozen state has been proposed during the early part of the Paleoproterozoic Era at about 2,300 Ma. There is little evidence of glaciation in the long intervening period but recently Williams (2005) presented evidence for glaciation in the Kimberley region of Western Australia at around 1,800 Ma.
Distribution of glaciations throughout geologic time. Note the large gap between the Paleo- and Neoproterozoic glaciations. Question mark indicates uncertainty concerning the number of Neoproterozoic glacial episodes.
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Young, G.M. (2009). Snowball Earth Hypothesis. In: Gornitz, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4411-3_211
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