Quaternary geology is that part of geology that is concerned with the study of the Quaternary, the youngest geological period. Since most of our landscape was formed during this time, that also includes the ice age, it has a strong relationship with geomorphology.

Quaternary geology, known also as Glacial or Pleistocene geology, is the study of the nature, origin and distribution of global processes operating during the last two million years (the period of the "ice ages"). Geomorphology examines specifically the landforms and processes operating on the surface of the earth. Glaciation exerted a tremendous effect on Canada's landscape; for example, ice movement shaped rivers, lakes, mountains, plains, and coastlines and produced the fertile soils of the prairies. It transported and dumped large amounts of sand and gravel, eroded and stripped the weathered shell from the Precambrian Shield, and modified our mineral deposits. We depend on Quaternary sediments for most of our water resources, aggregates for construction and as the repository for many of our wastes.

Quaternary geologists and geomorphologists normally study within departments of geology and geography. Courses in geomorphology, aerial photo interpretation and remote sensing are required in addition to expertise in sedimentology and stratigraphy. At the graduate and research levels, Quaternary scientists make extensive use of sophisticated dating techniques including radiocarbon 14, thermoluminescence, amino-acid racimisation, uranium series, fission-track and paleontological methods.

Quaternary geologists and geomorphologists find employment with provincial and federal surveys and research councils, consulting firms specialising in agriculture, groundwater, environmental geology, engineering, archaeology or geography. Increasing use will be made of glacial geologists in such fields as mineral exploration, exploration geochemistry and climate prediction.

Glacial and Quaternary geology is taught in some university geography departments. Alternatively, glacial geology may be approached through soil science. This is particularly true at universities that have colleges of agriculture or environmental science. Some universities also offer integrated programmes dealing with the chemistry, geology, physical geography, biology and physics of modern human-dominated environments.

Quaternary geology and geomorphology are closely associated in Canada since our landscape was drastically modified by glaciers. However, processes of erosion and deposition operate in all climatic regimes, and thus the scope of geomorphology is wider. Geomorphologists study river systems, arid and warm-climate landforms, coastal topography and marine processes. They examine permafrost in the arctic, karst features of carbonate terrain, and mass movements in the modern landscape.