Why isn't humankind preparing for the next ice age?

Question

Science shows that global warming is correlated with high levels of CO2 in the air. And that high levels of CO2 in the air was common before an ice age. With that evidence, I think it is reasonable to assume that global warming will lead to an imminent ice age. Why are we struggling to slow down global warming but not preparing ourselves to survive the next ice age? If we are preparing ourselves, what are we doing?
This will be the first ice age that modern, technology-savvy humankind will have experienced. Why aren't we using science to plan our survival now while we have the chance?
I'm not some doomsday freak - I'm just very common-sense. It's makes perfect sense to me to stop freaking out about global warming and start planning on what we are going to do once the world starts freezing.

Answer 1

Exactly - I think you are on to something here. The Vostok ice cores showed that the temps rapidly drop while co2 continues to increase.

This is the situation that we are in right now! There hasn't been any year warmer than 1998, in fact there's been some cooling since then, and the co2 levels continue to increase.

This is exactly what happens before every ice age. We should prepare now for the next global cooling wave!

Answer 2

You know. I wouldn't be surprised if you are right. I worked with a person that studied weather and long term climate change and he said the same thing.
Could we be in the early stages of a cooling trend? I deer hunt and I remember 1998 being a very warm November and December I shall never forget it.
But there has never been a season to compare with how warm it was and this year I was out there in the normal 10 - 20 degree F. temp. range I'm more used to. not the 60 - 70 degree temps we had in 1998.
As far as comon sense goes I'd think we should have had at least 2 or 3 years that exceeded 1998 but we have not seen that.

Answer 3

Back in the 1970s there was considerable scientific speculation that we were due for another glacial period. However human release of greenhouse gasses seems to have ended those concerns. I have seen speculation that global warming can trigger an iceage ( I believe there was an article in Atlantic several years ago) but I have forgotten the chain of logic the authors used. In any case I don't think theres a whole lot you can do to prepare for an iceage except to maintain a large military. That way when the time comes, you can steal the land of your southern neighbors, and fight off the hordes from the north. Damned Canadians.

Answer 4

The term is 'Continental Glaciation'. It's the result of increased amounts of water vapor in the atmosphere. That causes cloud cover to increase,and precipitation to increase as well. During the cold winter months that means more snowfall. The increase in snow cover begins a 'negative feed-back loop of increased cooling. Most folks are really confused by this. They're under the erroneous assumption that the weather will get warmer. Not exactlly the case. The weather is powered by heat. Increase that heat,and you get more intense and unpredictable weather!
When the Ice Age does come,we won't be able to do much about it. Remember, the ice was over a mile thick!

Answer 5

Because the next ice age is not coming anytime soon.

Ice ages occur because of major changes in solar radiation known as Milankovic cycles. They occur at about 100,000 year intervals. The last ice age was about 12,000 years ago, we're not due anytime soon.

The record of the last 400,000 years or so. Notice the pretty regular ice ages.

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Ice_Age_Temperature_Rev_png

The climate was actually pretty stable (just starting to cool a little) until we messed it up:

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:2000_Year_Temperature_Comparison_png
http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Holocene_Temperature_Variations_Rev_png

"We humans have built a remarkable socioeconomic system during perhaps the only time when it could be built, when climate was sufficiently stable to allow us to develop the agricultural infrastructure required to maintain an advanced society.

If the Earth came with an operating manual, the chapter on climate might begin with a caveat that the system has been adjusted at the factory for optimum comfort, so don't touch the dials."

Answer 6

OMG! Most people who answer these environmental questions usually have some kind of hidden agenda or are just to stupid to realize how idiotic they sound. With that said, this is one of the rare times when Dr. Jello has the right answer, but doesn't know why.
Ice ages are theorized to be triggered by the stopping of the thermocline belts that move warm water from the equator to Europe and cold water to the tropics. This will in turn cause surface temperatures to increase more water vapor in the atmosphere, that precipitation will build new glaciers, putting them on the move.

Answer 7

Because the world is lulled into believing that the climate is on an unstoppable human induced warming trend. The global warming alarmists could have the death of millions of people on their hands if they continue to deny the predictions of a cooling trend and it's impact on humanity.

EDIT:

The other commonly misunderstood fact is that we are currently in an ice age. We are at the apex of an interglacial period, in which the climate warms very rapidly and cools just as quickly. Interglacial periods last an average of 10,000 years, occasionally they last 15,000 years. Since this interglacial period has been occurring for 10,500 years, the statistics say that it is due to end soon.

Answer 8

I'm going to chop more wood.
I am sure there are those that are prepared for the worst, we just won't be invited.

Answer 9

What are you going to do for yourself!?