The late Paleozoic Ice Age (LPIA) was one of Earth's most important Phanerozoic climatic events lasting for over 100 Mys. Despite its importance, its history is controversial with two hypotheses that portray glaciation differently (Fig. 1). Traditional views characterize the LPIA as a continuous glacial event that lasted from the Middle Mississippian until the Late Permian with a massive ice sheet that covered Gondwana throughout this interval. This approach often uses only one or two proxies to define the glaciation. The other emerging hypothesis suggests that numerous ice sheets occurred in Gondwana with individual glacial events lasting up to 10 Mys alternating with glacial minima/non-glacial intervals of similar duration. Both views are still prevalent. Both near- and far-field proxies are used to define the ice age. Near-field proxies include the occurrence/absence of diamictites, glaciotectonic deposits/landforms, striated clasts and clast pavements, outsized clasts (dropstones), rhythmites, cyclic diamictite-bearing successions, glendonites, grooved and striated surfaces, streamline landforms, and U-shaped paleovalleys. Detrital zircons and chemical index of alteration (CIA) studies help to delineate the occurrence, extent, and location of glaciation. Multiple complexities occur with the use of these proxies as different non-glacial processes and driving factors can produce similar features or results. Far-field proxies focus on identifying changes in eustacy. These include the occurrence of cyclic successions composed of alternating nonmarine and marine strata (cyclothems), depth of incised valleys, paleotopographic relief, phosphatic black shales, and changing oxygen isotope ratios. Like the near-field record, far-field proxies are complex indicators with varied nuances that make their application challenging. Here we discuss the limitations and use of these proxies and promote a multiproxy approach to investigating Earth's glacial intervals. We suggest that studies incorporate multiple proxies coupled with detailed environmental, paleoflow, and paleogeographic analyses to better constrain the occurrence, timing, and extent of glaciation and its influence on global systems. This approach will provide a robust view of the LPIA. We also consider the magnitude and nature of sea-level response to changing ice volumes by discussing ice-volume fluctuations, basin subsidence's modification of glacioeustacy, and sea-level's response to global isostatic adjustment (GIA). In considering these features, it becomes apparent that glacioeustacy is more complex than previously envisioned.

晚古生代冰河时代 (LPIA) 是地球上最重要的显生宙气候事件之一，持续时间超过 100 Mys。尽管它很重要，但它的历史是有争议的，有两种假设不同地描述了冰川作用（图 1）。传统观点认为 LPIA 是一个持续的冰川事件，从密西西比纪中期一直持续到二叠纪晚期，在整个这段时间里，巨大的冰盖覆盖了冈瓦纳大陆。这种方法通常只使用一个或两个代理来定义冰川作用。另一个新出现的假设表明，冈瓦纳纪发生了许多冰盖，个别冰川事件持续时间长达 10 Mys，与持续时间相似的极小冰期/非冰期间隔交替出现。这两种观点仍然盛行。近场和远场代理都用于定义冰河时代。近场替代物包括混叠岩的出现/不存在、冰川构造沉积物/地貌、条纹碎屑和碎屑路面、超大碎屑（滴石）、韵律、含循环混杂岩的系列、格伦脱岩、槽纹和条纹表面、流线型地貌和 U-形古谷。碎屑锆石和化学蚀变指数 (CIA) 研究有助于描绘冰川作用的发生、范围和位置。使用这些代理会产生多种复杂性，因为不同的非冰川过程和驱动因素会产生相似的特征或结果。远场代理专注于识别 Eustacy 的变化。这些包括由交替的非海相和海相地层（环流）、下切山谷的深度、古地形起伏、含磷黑色页岩、和改变氧同位素比率。与近场记录一样，远场代理是复杂的指标，具有各种细微差别，使其应用​​具有挑战性。在这里，我们讨论了这些代理的局限性和使用，并推广了一种多代理方法来调查地球的冰川间隔。我们建议研究结合多个代理以及详细的环境、古流和古地理分析，以更好地限制冰川作用的发生、时间和范围及其对全球系统的影响。这种方法将提供 LPIA 的可靠视图。我们还通过讨论冰量波动、盆地沉降对冰川作用的改变以及海平面对全球均衡调整 (GIA) 的响应，来考虑海平面对冰量变化的响应的幅度和性质。