It is known to climatologists that we are definitely at the time of what should be the end of the warm interglacial period that has been enjoyed by humans for the past 11,700 years. The above graph shows the very high degree of correlation of ice core records going back 400,000 years and benthic records going back nearly double that time with Milankovitch Cycles which relate to periodic variations that occur with Earth’s orbital position relative to the Sun.
Even though climatological modelling predicts that due to the significant increase in atmospheric carbon due to human activities that there may be a substantial delay of the inevitable end of our interglacial period, the models themselves can change a lot. I just read this past week now more detailed modelling of bacterial activity in soil – which accounts for 10 times more carbon in the global carbon cycle than human activities – has significantly changed the value that should be used in models.
One reads about new adjustments and tweaks to climatologic models all the time based on more and more studies about the various complex systems which account for Earth’s climate.
Regardless of what actual effect the increased atmospheric carbon is having and will continue to have, it looks a lot like the interglacial is trying to come to an end, with more and more severe winters.
People may not understand what causes glacial periods vs. warming periods. Nothing magical just happens, just that there is gradually more snow accumulation each year than how much recedes.
Of course there is actually massive ice loss occurring in at least the Arctic regions on Earth. But perhaps at the same time that is happening the climate is also trying to slip back into its now overdue, impending ice age.
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