What are the primary drivers of climate change, warmings, ice ages etc. for planet earth.

Question

If you are only going to speculate, please just state that you don't know. Avoid using words such as maybe, might, we think, and similar phrases.

Answer 1

You will never get an alarmist to admit that greenhouse gases didn't drive climate.  Their whole doomsday cult is predicated on human emissions of CO2.  Without it, they will have to find something else to be scared of.

Answer 2

Variations in solar output, the Earth's orbital (Milankovitch) cycles, and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  See the link below for details.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/global...

As far as I know, we don't know which is the most common climate change driver.  It also depends on whether you're talking about large changes (like ice ages) or small changes (like the MWP).

As for the MWP, I would hazard a guess that the primary driver was an increase in solar output.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:...

Answer 3

The uneven distribution of solar output. Then the atmosphere strives to make this energy reach a equilibrium from the pole to the equator. There are hemispheric contrast that work in conjunction with the oceanic conveyor system that is also a contrast between land and water. This works on a seasonal basis as a opposition to each other. In a nutshell...checks and balances.

The link is old, but the basics never change.

Answer 4

infra red wavelengths

Answer 5

Solar variability regulated by the center of mass of the solar system caused by the orbital configuration of the outer planets, particularly Jupiter and Saturn are the only theory that can explain many of the cycles observed in the proxy data that ranges over human history. These cycles are evident in decadal time lengths as well as centennial time periods and can explain the little LIA, MWP and the modern warm period which peaked a few years ago.

Answer 6

After some research and visits to different parks in the US and their visitor centers, (places as Mt. St. Helen, Forissant Fossil Beds, Craters of the Moon, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone) I found the following answer for you:

The primary drivers of climate change as far we know are:

Plate tectonics - Forming continents.

Solar variation.

Orbital variations (somebody else already mentioned the Milankovitch cycles).

Volcanism - See information about supervulcanos.

Human influences.

Climate changes and it's a continuing process, Carl Sagan mentioned once that our life in the planet can be reduced to the last short and diminute moment of a life calendar. We have lived too little to know what and how exactly occurred. However, there is plenty of evidence that the enviroment reponds at different rates and in different ways to the changes that occur.

To conclude, I would add a bit extra info that is more than interesting about this topic and it makes it richer: Dendrochronology -  or tree-ring dating. The analysis of tree ring growth patters, then you will have some of the ways to see yourself some of the changes our planet have suffered in the last couple thousand years and what have thriggered or caused it (sempervirens sequoias i.e.)

Answer 7

Historically, it has been plate tectonics.  But in recent history (last 2,000 years), it seems solar output is more of the driver.

During the youth of the planet, the continent(s) were moving and separating and this re-routed wind patterns, jet streams, etc.  Pangea was one giant desert with plant life by the ocean.  When it ripped apart, South America and Africa were lush with life due to wind patterns and vast amounts of water.  But northern Africa became a desert again during the next couple million years.

The LIA happened because of a very low amount of sunspots.  During this 500 year ice age, scientists noticed there was almost no sunspots.  Today we have very high activity with the sunspots at the end of Solar Cycle 23 and the beginning of Solar Cycle 24.

Let's also not forget about the PDO, it has the strongest correlation to temperatures during the past century.

Answer 8

The global warming advocates zero in on CO2 emmisions as the primary driver and that man is the cause.  The planet has been warming , and cooling for millions of years without man's help.

There are no experimental data to support the hypothesis that increases in human hydrocarbon use or in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are causing or can be expected to cause unfavorable changes in global temperatures, weather, or landscape. There is no reason to limit human production of CO2, CH4, and other minor greenhouse gases as has been proposed.

We also need not worry about environmental calamities even if the current natural warming trend continues. The Earth has been much warmer during the past 3,000 years without catastrophic effects. Warmer weather extends growing seasons and generally improves the habitability of colder regions.

As coal, oil, and natural gas are used to feed and lift from poverty vast numbers of people across the globe, more CO2 will be released into the atmosphere. This will help to maintain and improve the health, longevity, prosperity, and productivity of all people.

The United States and other countries need to produce more energy, not less. The most practical, economical, and environmentally sound methods available are hydrocarbon and nuclear technologies.

Human use of coal, oil, and natural gas has not harmfully warmed the Earth, and the extrapolation of current trends shows that it will not do so in the foreseeable future. The CO2 produced does, however, accelerate the growth rates of plants and also permits plants to grow in drier regions. Animal life, which depends upon plants, also flourishes, and the diversity of plant and animal life is increased.

Human activities are producing part of the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere. Mankind is moving the carbon in coal, oil, and natural gas from below ground to the atmosphere, where it is available for conversion into living things. We are living in an increasingly lush environment of plants and animals as a result of this CO2 increase. Our children will therefore enjoy an Earth with far more plant and animal life than that with which we now are blessed.

Answer 9

Right now I would say NO ONE really knows.

There exists two scientific camps with divergent views. (Regardless of how CERTAIN the advocates happen to be) -- to me numbers, committees, and political bodies, regardless of how many their may be --- might just be wrong. This has occurred many times in the past with commonly held scientific notions.

The SKEPTIC is usually the one that "designs a personal computer in his garage", "invents the light bulb, and the telephone", "determines that those nebula are really other galaxies" "figures out what is gravity"---------- "and the Earth is NOT the center of the Universe"--- etc etc

Answer 10

The Liberals are the originators , because they think it will get U to save some oil for them...

Answer 11

The sun.

Sun sets, gets cold.

Sun rises, heats up.

Earth tilts away from sun, winter

Earth tilts towards sun, summer

Follow the sunspots my child.

Answer 12

The Sun!

Man has not created one single ice age. Something else must have done it.