International Commission on Stratigraphy

The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) is a global organization that sets and standardizes the terminology and divisions used to describe Earth's geological time and layers of rocks. It helps scientists around the world agree on the names and ages of different periods, epochs, and other time units in Earth's history. By doing so, the ICS ensures accurate communication and consistent understanding of geological findings, which is essential for studying Earth's past, including climate changes, mass extinctions, and the evolution of life over millions of years.