" The Quaternary Ice Age" presents an overview of the present knowledge on environmental change as seen in the history of the quaternary ice age of the Alps. Its main theme is a description of the stratigraphic record produced by fundamental changes in the environment through multiple cycles of glacier advance and retreat. A timely contribution to the global climate change discussionAssembles the immense amount of quaternary Alpine research into one volumeShows the global distribution of climatic fluctuations during the ice age.