Hi All,
I'm not entering an opinion!
Just a theory that was presented on a science documentary on Foxtell.
Global Warming will cause melt down of the polar ice sheets. The Great Ocean convection Currents (GOCC) are powered by the temperature differences at the poles and equator. If this ratio becomes smaller the GOCC will slow or stop.
It is the GOCC that keeps places like the UK warmer than Canada at similar latitudes. Canada freezes over much more than the UK.
This applies to other areas on the planet as well.
If the GOCC stops, the theory is that Earth will be pushed into an ice age. Permanent ice sheets covering much of the inhabited areas. This is the eventual result of global warming.
So many factors to be considered. Like snow or ice and how much more reflective it is. The snowball effect: If the icesheets retreat climate becomes warmer because of less reflection. More heat absorbed, more melting occurs. The oppositte also occurs. When ice sheets advance cooling effects snowball.
It is an interesting and plausable concept. The article was an hour length and explained a number of other contributing factors which are too lengthy for here.
On mini ice ages; much evidence has been found supporting big volcanic eruptions to be responsible, emissions of gases and ash particles.
Sulpher oxides combine in the atmosphere to form acids. Highly reflective to sunlight, while fine ash attenuates the passage of light. This all combines to cool the earth.
This may be an answer to some of those puzzling iceages in the past.
I simply say again here its not an opinion but an observation.
Cheers Marty