NationStates Jolt Archive


The Ice Age Cometh? Not!

Purly Euclid
10-06-2004, 01:28
For those concerned about global warming, and especially environmentalists, you probably find a significant risk of an ice age by century's end. The movie The Day After Tommarrow has probably reinforced that worry. However, this article shows that it may still be a long way off.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/09/science/09CND-CLIMATE.html?ex=1087444800&en=943ce89651118b2d&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
10-06-2004, 01:30
The day after tomorrow is lame. Its still doesnt discredit the theory of Climate change.
Purly Euclid
10-06-2004, 01:31
The day after tomorrow is lame. Its still doesnt discredit the theory of Climate change.
No, but the new ice cores help.
10-06-2004, 01:35
Do you mean these (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3792209.stm) Icecores?

Global climate patterns stretching back 740,000 years have been confirmed by a three-kilometre-long ice core drilled from the Antarctic, Nature reports.

Analysis of the ice proves our planet has had eight ice ages during that period, punctuated by rather brief warm spells - one of which we enjoy today.
Purly Euclid
10-06-2004, 01:37
Do you mean these (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3792209.stm) Icecores?

Global climate patterns stretching back 740,000 years have been confirmed by a three-kilometre-long ice core drilled from the Antarctic, Nature reports.
Yep. But really, 15,000 years is more than enough time to prepare for an ice age.
10-06-2004, 01:38
If past patterns are followed in the future, we can expect our "mild snap" to last another 15,000 years.

there is no past patttern. These elevated levels of greenhouse gasses is an entirely new pattern.
Purly Euclid
10-06-2004, 01:40
If past patterns are followed in the future, we can expect our "mild snap" to last another 15,000 years.

there is no past patttern. These elevated levels of greenhouse gasses is an entirely new pattern.
Not necessarily. This pattern may be human generated, but it has happened may times in the past. Carbon dioxide levels, while rising, are roughly about what they were 30,000 years ago.
Insane Troll
10-06-2004, 01:40
Many of the same gasses were present in the past due to heavy volcanic activity.

I think that ice core thing is really cool, that's awesome that they found it.
10-06-2004, 01:41
But this is not a one off event. Systems can usually deal with knocks like that to some degree. This is a large sustained release.
Purly Euclid
10-06-2004, 01:54
But this is not a one off event. Systems can usually deal with knocks like that to some degree. This is a large sustained release.
Relax. Mother nature has produced larger before. There have been quite a few periods--some recent--of large volcanic activity. If anything, it probably would warm the planet, and therefore, make rainforests extend to Alaska. It happened last during the Eocene Epoch 55 million years ago, and life flourished then.