We might be closer to an ice age than we would like to admit. And the reason is global warming. Yes I know, not so intuitive. 
One might ask: “What’s the most significant consequence of global warming?” And the response usually looks something like: “Oh, nothing much. Just the sudden increase in sunscreen sales and polar bears getting their own air conditioning units!” 
But that’s not all! The global heating of the Earth is disrupting the periodic cycle of ice ages, that are naturally caused by its orbit around the Sun and other orbital parameters!
Let’s see what scientists have to say about what causes an ice age and how global warming might be affecting the upcoming one!

What is an Ice Age? 
So, what is an Ice Age? It is a geological phenomenon that is both a blessing and a curse, kind of like finding out your favorite guilty pleasure snack is actually good for you. On one hand, it brings forth majestic landscapes of icy wonder, like a frozen fairytale land straight out of a Disney movie

Wobbles of Earth
Imagine the Earth as a little spinning top, rotating and wobbling, almost like it’s trying to make up a dance move. But unlike John Travolta, our planet has less defined rhythm. It sways and turns like an ice skater who is losing balance, because of the great variations of its rotation.
Eccentricity
The shape of our orbit around the Sun changes over time. That shape is what we call eccentricity and it varies between zero, giving us a nice circular orbit, and one, where the orbit becomes more stretched and elliptical, looking more and more like an elongated egg. 

Combination of the Cycles
Now that I can use these terms with the peace of mind that you will know what I am talking about, let’s go through how they could cause an ice age on Earth together. 
Specifically, combined periods of low eccentricity, a lower rotational axis tilt, and the positioning of the closest approach to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere winter definitely create just the perfect environment for an ice age to form. 

Ocean’s Circulation 
The last period of ice the Earth went through was 100 thousand years ago and lasted for around 75 thousand years! 
The Earth actually goes through one of those every few million years. Right now, we are in a time called an inter-glacial period, which means it's not as cold and the previously accumulated ice is melting. 
After some scientists at Cardiff University studied icebergs that melt in Antarctica, they found that when these icebergs melt, they release pieces of rock into the ocean


Global Warming: The Ice Age's Misunderstood Cousin
Now, the natural thing would be for you to start thinking is: "But… shouldn’t global warming cause us to melt, and not to freeze?" Ah, my dear, you are indeed correct. Global warming, constantly caused by human activities, is indeed making the overall temperature of the Earth rise, leading to the melting of ice caps and glaciers. 

How Would We React?
The past pandemic showed us that humans have developed the ability to create an environment that accepts what it’s going through and gets creative with it. I really wonder what our current generation would do if it had to go through an Ice Age anytime soon and what creative thing sit would come up with.
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Credits: Ron Miller, Mark A. Garlick / MarkGarlick.com
Credits: Nasa/Shutterstock/Storyblocks/Elon Musk/SpaceX/ESA/ESO/ Flickr

Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:40 Wobbles of earth
03:40 milankowitch cycles
04:08 axial precession
05:14 eccentricity
06:57 combination of the cycles
07:25 Ocean's circulation
09:30 Global warming: The Ice Age's Misunderstood Cousin
10:59 How would we react?

#insanecuriosity #iceage #globalwarming

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