How can Earth temperatures over the last 10,000 years be best described?

Earth temperatures over the last 10,000 years can be described as warm and fairly steady due to the Holocene epoch, which began at the end of the last glacial period around 11,700 years ago. This period has been characterized by relatively mild and stable climates, which have allowed for the development of human civilizations. During the Holocene, average global temperatures rose to levels warmer than those of the preceding glacial periods, maintaining a generally stable trajectory with only slight fluctuations.

The climate has experienced some variations, such as the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age, but these changes are relatively minor compared to the broader context of the unusually warm and stable climate of the entire Holocene epoch. This stability in temperature has had significant implications for ecosystems and human activities, influencing agriculture, settlement patterns, and species distribution throughout this time period.

In contrast, the other descriptions do not accurately capture the long-term climate trends observed in the geological record over the last 10,000 years. Fluctuating patterns, extreme heat, or prolonged cold do not align with the predominant characteristics of the Holocene.