global warming causing an ice age?

Question

Scientists are claiming that global warming could cause an ice age again. BUT, how did the FIRST ice age occur? Humans sure didn't do it with our factories because, well, it was toooooooooo long ago. So, if WE didn't cause the first ice age, how did it occur in the first place? I can speak for everyone here that global warming must not have happened, and if it did, then its very strange.

To michaelee g:

Yes global warming can lead to an ice age. The melted ice caps will add fresh water into the rip currents causing them to be deluded with fresh water, shutting down that current and sending which ever country the warm current keeps from freezing to enter an ice age.

Answer 1

There is some speculation that global warming may trigger a shutting down of the Gulf Stream. The cause of this could be cold water introduced into the North Atlantic from the melting ice of Greenland and the Arctic Ice Cap.

This is only speculation, no-one knows quite what effects global warming will have on ocean currents as they could be affected in different ways. IF the Gulf Stream were to 'switch off' the areas which presently benefit from the warm water it carries would cool consideably - primarily north western Europe, Iceland and the North Atlantic, this cooling MAY be enough to trigger a localised ice age. This in turn would reflect more sunlight back into space (ice being more reflective than water or earth) which COULD be a trigger for more widespread global cooling.

It seems unlikely that this will happen and in any event, the Gulf Stream merely redistributed heat so whislt some areas would cool if it were to shut down others would warm and the two would balance each other out.

Historically ice ages have come and gone several times in the past and do so on a cycle of about 100 million years. These changes have been brought about in part due to variations in the amount of heat energy recieved from the sun and changes in the way the Earth moves.

If you'd like more details about these the terms to search for are 'Solar Variation', 'Milankovitch Cycles' and 'Thermohaline Circulation'.

Answer 2

i believe that Global warming CANNOT cause another ice age. The reason is because if global warming got that bad then it would melt the ice caps. That would just let ships have a shorter route to go to transport stuff. Global warming has and is happing right now. I know this because there is lots of proof. For example the temperature has gone up 6 degrees in the last century. That is ALOT! So i believe that global warming cannot cause the next ice age and that it is really hap ping.

Answer 3

No one has ever said that human activities are the sole drivers of climate change. Many natural factors can affect the climate asa well. Many past glacials are believed to have been kicked off by slight variations in Earth's orbit (we're not in one now, so don't go getting any ideas). However, one thing is almost certain, virtually all past changes have been driven to a large extent by carbon dioxide. Even in instances when CO2 did not start the change, it essentially 'took over' and caused most of the warming.

Answer 4

Biblically speaking, global warming is humanities scientific explaination of what has been foretold would already happen.

Answer 5

if its global warming then why would it make an ice age

Answer 6

Yes if it happens it happens, nothing we did or will do can prevent it.
It's just a big scam yet to reveal it's self.

Answer 7

What scientists? Please cite references.