Global warming causes the polar ice caps to melt, which in turn rapidly and steeply reduces the temperature of the sea's thereby plunging it into another ice age. so when will the next one be?
2006-09-11 17:31:32 · 14 answers · asked by Prady 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
First, let's temporarily set aside the issue of global warming and examine traditional ice ages:
"Many glacial periods have occurred during the last few million years, initially at 40,000-year frequency but more recently at 100,000-year frequencies." It has been 10,000 years since the last full ice age. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age
We actually had a "little ice age" between 1150 and 1460. http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/lia/little_ice_age.html (plus a period of cool weather between 1550 and 1850).
Now for the effects of global warming. There is actually a chance that global warming could (ironically) cause an ice age. This would happen if
1) Greenland ice caps melt
2) Fresh water from the ice stops the "global conveyor belt" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermohaline_circulation This is the name given to the ocean currents that carries heat from the tropical regions to northern hemisphere. (AKA Gulf Stream)
3) Reduced temperature at the poles causes runaway feedback loop, wherein ice caps form, reflecting more light and heat from the sun, causing further cooling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutdown_of_thermohaline_circulation
We don't know how long it would take, but past ice ages have had onsets only a few decades in length. "palaeoclimate records showing drops of air temperature up to 10°C within decades, linked to abrupt switches of ocean circulation when a certain threshold is reached".
How much melting is required to shut down the global conveyor? Not sure, but "If all the ice on the polar ice caps were to melt away, the oceans of the world would rise an estimated 70 m (229 ft)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retreat_of_glaciers_since_1850 This would take a couple of centuries.
However, all the ice doesn't have to melt to shut down the global conveyor, but it gives an outer limit.
"About 12,700 years ago, also associated with an apparent collapse of the thermohaline circulation, there was a cooling of at least 27 degrees Fahrenheit in Greenland, and substantial change throughout the North Atlantic region as well, this
time lasting 1,300 years. The remarkable feature of the Younger Dryas event was that it happened in a series of decadal drops of around 5 degrees.." from http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/3566_AbruptClimateChange.pdf
2006-09-12 01:46:09 · answer #1 · answered by Tom D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
international Warming is fake. international climate replace, which isn't in a position to be altered with the help of people, is what's going on. we are no longer presently close to to and ice age, however the certainty is they do ensue each so often. Oh, and picture approximately this. If the ice caps soften what is going to ensue? you may think of that the sea will overflow, properly you're ineffective incorrect. think of roughly this. placed ice in a pitcher, then fill it to the brim with water. Wait approximately an hour and circulate back and spot that the water did no longer overflow. you may think of, properly yeah the ice displaced the water, yet interior the ice caps the ice is above the water. properly, it style of feels God planned this comprehensive element out. What occurs to water while it freezes? IT EXPANDS. while it melts, it contracts (shrinks). It shrinks on the best ratio with the aid of fact the ice this is above to what's decrease than. 10:ninety. all the ice ought to soften and not something could ensue to the sea point. the only result could be much less sparkling ingesting water.
2016-11-07 03:47:54 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the Milankovitch cycle, the warm inter-glacial periods usually last 25-30,000 years, and the last ice age ended about 10,000 years ago, so you do the math. During the last warm interglacial, called the Emian period, both polar ice caps melted, (presumably due to all of the fires that Neanderthal man was making, don't you agree?), but that didn't stop the last ice age from coming, which lasted ~120,000 years. It will be interesting to see Detroit and Chicago under 10,000 feet of solid ice again, in just 15-20,000 years from now. I'm kind of looking forward to it.
2006-09-11 17:45:18 · answer #3 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
August 14, 2009, at 9:30 am (Eastern Standard Time)
2006-09-11 18:35:22 · answer #4 · answered by stevewbcanada 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I predict the next Ice Age will come next summer. I'm also going to go out on a limb here... and predict it will be called Ice Age 3.
2006-09-11 17:46:58 · answer #5 · answered by Webster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As soon as the present world temperature drops by 4 degrees Celsius.
2006-09-11 17:37:31 · answer #6 · answered by Subakthi D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question!
The Day After Tomorrow...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319262/
Seriously though, I don't think we've got anything to worry about in our lifetimes.
2006-09-11 19:34:35 · answer #7 · answered by tbom_01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There want be another ice age. The earth is getting hotter, not colder. It's getting ready for "Hell"....
2006-09-11 17:33:58 · answer #8 · answered by sdrose17 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Supposed to be tens of thousands of years away yet...we'll probably miss it.
2006-09-11 17:34:30 · answer #9 · answered by suzanne 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
got one going on in my freezer right now..........i need to give it some global warming.........maybe this weekend
2006-09-11 17:34:48 · answer #10 · answered by fn_49@hotmail.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋