The Earth's Climate Can Change Rapidly

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the rapid changes in Earth's climate, specifically referencing historical Snowball Earth periods and their implications for current climate debates. Participants explore geological evidence, theoretical models, and potential future scenarios related to climate change.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that historical Snowball Earth periods occurred in a geological moment estimated at 1,000 to 100,000 years.
  • One participant suggests that if a similar event were to happen today, it could complicate the global warming debate.
  • Others propose that current climate conditions could lead to rapid warming, potentially as fast or faster than past cooling events.
  • A participant references theoretical models of snowball glaciation, indicating that once ice extends to 30 degrees of latitude, rapid glaciation may follow, as proposed by Mihail Budyko in 1969.
  • Evidence compiled by Paul Hoffman in the mid-1980s supports these models, suggesting that a weaker Sun around 770 million years ago facilitated transitions between "ice ball" and "hot house" conditions.
  • It is mentioned that during ice-covered periods, reduced rock weathering led to increased atmospheric CO2, which eventually contributed to warming and a greenhouse effect.
  • One participant argues that due to a stronger Sun and a strengthening greenhouse effect, another "ice house" scenario is very unlikely in the coming centuries.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the implications of historical climate events for current and future climate scenarios. There is no consensus on the likelihood or nature of future climate changes, with multiple competing perspectives presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to geological evidence and theoretical models, but limitations regarding assumptions and the scope of the models are not fully explored. The implications of current climate conditions on future scenarios remain unresolved.

BillTre
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One of the Snowball Earth periods geology has been able to find went into its all (or almost) Earth frozen all over state, in a geological moment (estimated at 1,000 to 100,000 years).
Science news article here.
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
Wow, If this happened now, it would sure throw a monkey-wrench into the global warming debate.
 
Of course, in our time, it could go the other way, possibly as fast, or faster.
Not that anyone here now might be around to see it. Or maybe they would be.
 
BillTre said:
One of the Snowball Earth periods geology has been able to find went into its all (or almost) Earth frozen all over state, in a geological moment (estimated at 1,000 to 100,000 years).
Science news article here.
The find supports theoretical models of snowball glaciation, which suggest that once ice extends down to 30 degrees of latitude, rapid planetwide glaciation follows. I
This was proposed by Mihail Budyko in around 1969.
The evidence for it was compiled by Paul Hoffman in the mid 80s.
Back about 770 million year ago the Sun would have been around 7% weaker than today so it was much easier for the Earth to swing in and out of "ice ball" conditions, that is when ice sheets and sea ice were far at low enough latitudes to trigger a near planet wide glaciation. While the planet was cover with ice there was likely less rock weathering, this would have reduced the rate CO2 was scrubbed from the atmosphere so it built up. The theory goes this built enough to create a strong enough greenhouse effect to flip back into "hot house" conditions. This very warm, CO2 rich environment sees rock weathering go into over drive and leave deposits of cap carbonate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_carbonate

We have a much stronger Sun and a strengthening greenhouse effect so are very very unlikely to see another "ice house" in the coming centuries.
 

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