The next ice age postponed by 50,000 years
Despite the intensive exploitation of Earth by mankind, the planet has been managing to balance the negative impact of human activity. The findings about current changes on Earth suggest that the occurrence of another ice age is likely to have been postponed by 50,000 years.
Ice age is inevitable
Our planet’s life cycle is marked by cyclical occurrence of ice ages. They are brought about by the positioning of the Earth towards the Sun and the quantity of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. Each cycle is made up of two periods; the planet is fully covered in ice in the first one, while in the intermediary period the glaciation is partial. The cycles have made a massive impact on mankind. First of all, the changes on the planet during the latest ice age have shaped the present habitat we live in. Also, that period was likely to trigger the evolution of human species. If the glacial cycle was not disrupted, the next ice age would happen in around 50,000 years’ time. However, it will probably not be the case.
Progress of climate change
Scientists have heralded climate change for a long time now. They are confident that its main cause is burning fossil fuels, such as natural gas, petroleum and coal. Due to those processes, carbon dioxide is produced, which experts believe is to blame for the so-called greenhouse effect. It is one of the reasons why temperature on Earth is rising. According to the most recent research, the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere is large enough to prevent the onset of the next ice age by 50,000 years, meaning that the next glaciation is forecast to begin 100,000 years from now on.
A new geologic era
In itself, the fact that human activity can impact the natural cycles of the Earth is astonishing. Scientists have suggested that this unprecedented development marks the beginning of a new geological era – Anthropocene. We embark on an epoch in which human civilization has the decisive impact on the functioning of the planet, and it will help us skip a full glacial cycle. Seeing that ice ages have shaped the landscape of the continents as well as the oceans on Earth, it might be said that the man shapes the rhythm of the development of the planet. This great responsibility calls for wise and long-term approach to environmental changes.