what are the possible causes of ice ages?

Answer 1

2 causes
sun spots ( or lack thereof)

also as we travel through the galaxy we break the galactic plane, everytime we pass through the dust cloud of the disc we have an ice age.
we are headed there now.

Answer 2

The causes of ice ages remain controversial for both the large-scale ice age periods and the smaller ebb and flow of glacial–interglacial periods within an ice age. The consensus is that several factors are important: atmospheric composition (the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide,[citation needed] and various other gases and particulates in the atmosphere); changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun known as Milankovitch cycles (and possibly the Sun's orbit around the galaxy); the motion of tectonic plates resulting in changes in the relative location and amount of continental and oceanic crust on the Earth's surface; variations in solar output; the orbital dynamics of the Earth-Moon system; and the impact of relatively large meteorites, and eruptions of supervolcanoes.

Some of these factors are causally related to each other. For example, changes in Earth's atmospheric composition (especially the concentrations of greenhouse gases) may alter the climate, while climate change itself can change the atmospheric composition (for example by changing the rate at which weathering removes CO2).

Answer 3

Ice is a troubling thing. Large amounts of ice and snow increase the earth's albedo, as well as lower ocean levels.

Ocean water absorbs more heat than land, especially near the equator so low ocean levels cool the earth. High albedo also decreases the temperature.

so, having lots of land-mass across the equator + milenkovitch cycles + decreased sunspot activity + other factors gave rise to the run-away icebox effect. It's really lucky we got out of it too - look up the snowball earth effect sometime.

Answer 4

My theory is that the Earth will eventually get hot enough due to solar forces that the planet will become unstable. With the mantel steaming up with heat and the ice melting causing more pressure on the tectonic plates. Then the pressure will be released through volcanoes causing the planet to explode with lava, ash, steam, and chunks of rock. This will blanket our skies for thousands of years. The sun will not be able to get through and all of the Earth will freeze. When the sun is finally able to get back through the ice will melt. Finally we end up right back where we started. I believe that global warming is all a part of Earth's cycle not ours. And round and round we go!

Answer 5

Expanding ocean surfaces. Increased Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere. Painting the earths surface and everything on it white or is it Black? Blotting out the sun with particulates. A drastic decrease in solar radiation. Increased heat filling the air with more moisture. Increasing Earths gravitational field?

Answer 6

Global warming

Answer 7

Hi. Precession.

Answer 8

one is the blockage of the sun's light by some particulate matter (i.e. the dust left by an interstellar body explosion)