The linked article by Richard Black of BBC presents a concise summary of the mechanisms that cause ice ages, and also interglacial warm periods like the one we are presently in. Scientists looking back about 800,000 years at the Earth's ice age cycles believe that, were it not for greenhouse emissions, we would be entering a new ice age in about 1,500 years.
However, with CO2 levels at about 390 ppm, instead of the 240 ppm pre-industrial levels, this greenhouse warming effect is predicted to way override the orbital change cooling effects. The article also provides a brief history of why the orbital cycle changes are called Milankovich cycles.
Now no doubt the world is better off not reentering another ice age, but it will also be better off not overheating its climate, leading to more deserts, more intense storms, major sea level rise, etc.
However, with CO2 levels at about 390 ppm, instead of the 240 ppm pre-industrial levels, this greenhouse warming effect is predicted to way override the orbital change cooling effects. The article also provides a brief history of why the orbital cycle changes are called Milankovich cycles.
Now no doubt the world is better off not reentering another ice age, but it will also be better off not overheating its climate, leading to more deserts, more intense storms, major sea level rise, etc.
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