Skip to content

Climate

Next ice age delayed by carbon dioxide

by James Mathews 10 Jan 2012
Next ice age delayed by carbon dioxide

Muir Glacier via Shutterstock

Research conducted by the University of Florida has stated that normal glaciations are completely changing and behaving differently thanks to high levels of carbon dioxide that are now sitting within the Earth's atmosphere.

We are currently in a "warm period" that started approximately eleven thousand years ago but astronomical models suggest that we are just one and half thousand years away from entering another ice age. This is being challenged though by the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere which effectively traps heat. The research states that this trapping of heat could actually delay the next ice age by tens of thousands of years.

When you first hear that news it may sound good that we are delaying an ice age. However, the professor of geology at UF who was co-author of the research, Jim Channell, said, "Ice sheets like those in western Antarctica are already destabilized by global warming. When they eventually slough off and become a part of the ocean's volume, it will have a dramatic effect on sea level."

The research took into account astronomical models and previous climate change data. Fluctuations and "wobbles" in the Earth's orbit around the sun can cause fluctuations in whether we are experiencing warm periods or ice ages. Channell said, "We know from past records that Earth's orbital characteristics during our present interglacial period are a dead ringer for orbital characteristics in an interglacial period 780,000 years ago."

glaciation and carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere via Shutterstock

The current model would suggest that we would enter a new ice age in just 1,500 years but the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere works to trap the heat that we receive from the sun which would drastically slow down the cooling that would normally occur naturally.

The levels of CO2 in our atmosphere now stands at 390 parts per million. Over the past million years this level has never exceeded 280 parts per million. Therefore the levels are substantially higher than they have ever been. "The problem is that now we have added to the total amount of CO2 cycling through the system by burning fossil fuels," said Channell. "The cooling forces can't keep up."

Channell made a point as to how important this study was. He said that it shows the startling effects that we are having on the natural cycle of our world and how we have changed the history of over a million years in just a few short generations. "We haven't seen this high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for several million years," Channell said. "All bets are off."

Channell is hoping that the research will act as a warning that we need to change our ways as the amount of CO2 we are putting into the atmosphere is affecting us on a global level.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me