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WILL GLOBAL WARMING TRIGGER A NEW ICE AGE?

The Ice Age cycle is global in nature and occurs in phase in both hemispheres. It profoundly affects distribution of ice over lands and ocean, atmospheric temperatures and circulation, and ocean temperatures and circulation at the surface and at great depth.

Over the past three million years, the Earth has periodically plunged into an ice age. Although the planet is now in an inter-glacial period, the situation can change due to increased global temperatures, scientists say.

The current increase in global temperatures may disrupt the ordinary ice age cycle because the Southern Ocean is likely to become warmer and prevent icebergs from travelling far enough to change ocean circulation patterns in a way that triggers an ice age.

The action of the Great Conveyor Belt in defining ice ages was discovered only in the last decade. Preliminary computer models and scientists willing to speculate suggest the switch could flip as early as next year, or it may be generations from now. It may be wobbling right now, producing the extremes of weather we've seen in the past few years.

What's almost certain is that if nothing is done about global warming, it will happen sooner rather than later