What happens to the sun during an ice-age?

Question

I'm just curious

Answer 1

The sun must be shielded from the earth somehow for an ice age to form, scientists  thought the first ice age was caused by space object hitting the earth and causing so much dust and debris to enter the atmosphere that it caused the sun to be obscured, thus causing a perpetual "night" affect, so with no sunlight to warm the surface of the earth it just froze over into an ice age! And it wasn't until the dust settled that the world warmed up again. But what about the last ice age we had when the Mastodons became extinct? same thing? I do not believe so! It makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Answer 2

Nothing

Answer 3

The Maunder Minimum is the period roughly from 1645 to 1715, when sunspots became exceedingly rare, as noted by solar observers of the time. During one 30-year period within the Maunder Minimum, for example, astronomers observed only about 50 sunspots, as opposed to a more typical 40,000–50,000 spots.

The Maunder Minimum coincided with the middle — and coldest part — of the Little Ice Age, during which Europe and North America, and perhaps much of the rest of the world, were subjected to bitterly cold winters. Whether there is a causal connection between low sunspot activity and cold winters is the subject of ongoing debate.

I haven’t heard of lack of sunspots causing a major ice age but also I don’t know how the sunspot count could be taken from a past era.

Answer 4

in my opinion the sun isn't affected by the earths climate. i'm curious as to why a top contributor ask.

Answer 5

As far as I know, there is no theory on a direct relation between the sun activity and ice-ages. The sun activity is known to be in a period of 11 years, nothing to do with the ice ages we have observed on earth.

The closest theory that I know of is from a Danish scientist (sorry, forgot his name) who says that the global warming we are measuring now comes probably from the sun's interference in cosmic particles that reach the earth. Those particles have the ability to condens water vapour into droplets and that creates clouds that cools down the earth. If the cosmic particles originating from remote super nova, etc. travelling at nearly the speed of light are diverted by the sun's magnetic field and thus reduced in our atmosphere, there will be less clouds and a hotter climate.

But all this is a theory that doesn't have so much support in the scientifc world. But ... who knows?

(EDITED) I googled and found his name: Henrik Svensmark. Here is a link too:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...

Answer 6

Actually, it's not what happens to the sun, it's what happens to the earth.

The Earth experiences a new kind of orbit every 10,000 years or so. The Earth is currently in a more circular orbit around the sun (even though it's considered eliptical), leaving us nice and comfortable.  

In due time, the Earth will begin to shape an even more eliptical orbit. This eliptical orbit will decrease Earth's temperature enough to another ice age.

Answer 7

It hibernates in a cave in a black hole.

Answer 8

Google it