What caused all previous ice ages? And why do scientists say that the Climatic Optimum in the Holocene epoch happened during the time frame of 5000 to 3000 BC, the average temperature of the Earth was 1to 2 degrees Celsius warmer than today?
Yes, Milankovitch is a subtle long term change, and we are in the middle of the axial tilt, so I agree it's not really a factor one way or the other at present, however: Regarding solar; It is not necessarily a long term change such as the orbital cycle subtleties are, and it will be an interesting test of the models to see what happens over the next decade or two if this is truly another Maunder Minimum type scenario setting up. We will see if AGW (assuming that it is significant part of, or as some claim, the only cause of warming) is truly able to stop a little ice age. My money is on solar inactivity cooling us down. It really is too bad politics and money agendas have interfered with the science. It has completely tarnished what started out in the 50's as genuine science with no agenda. AGW has become big business, and big $ for some. That should trouble anyone who actually cares about it, regardless of which side they are on.
Manmade global warming is a far far greater force than solar variations. The "next ice age" will not happen unless GHG's come down. And yes you are right. It's too bad that the real science is being buried under right wing corporate propaganda and disinformation campaign. Sites like Watts Up with that, etc. The Koch bros et al have too much to lose.
You do recognize that "climate.nasa.gov" is NOT a NASA or government website. It is a bunch oif graduate students from the California Institute of Technology posting on the this website - it is NOT scientists from NASA. In fact many legitimate NASA scientists are very upset with the nonsense posted on the California Institute of Technology website known as "climate.nasa.gov" and are demanding that the the website no longer be associated with NASA but only with the California Institute of Technology which owns and maintains it. How often does this need to be explained to you?
Orbital variations leading to the sun hitting one hemisphere more than the other. This sets up a cascade of negative feedback loops, one of the most important ones involving CO2, the levels of which determine the temps.
This website is produced by the Earth Science Communications Team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory / California Institute of Technology Regardless of where it is from, it is a fact. Of course, some scientists at NASA are upset. They are ignorant asshole righties . You can find them everywhere.
From NASA........... directly The atmosphere today contains more greenhouse gas molecules, so more of the infrared energy emitted by the surface ends up being absorbed by the atmosphere. Since some of the extra energy from a warmer atmosphere radiates back down to the surface, Earthâs surface temperature rises. By increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases, we are making Earthâs atmosphere a more efficient greenhouse. How is Todayâs Warming Different from the Past? Earth has experienced climate change in the past without help from humanity. We know about past climates because of evidence left in tree rings, layers of ice in glaciers, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. For example, bubbles of air in glacial ice trap tiny samples of Earthâs atmosphere, giving scientists a history of greenhouse gases that stretches back more than 800,000 years. The chemical make-up of the ice provides clues to the average global temperature................................................................................................................ Good reading, wjk and wallet, this will probably answer your questions. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/
And you know what's funny gwb? If from within the NASA website one types GW consensus, it puts the California site at the top. I wonder why? Is it because they want to reference a bogus site stealing their name? Hmmm. http://nasasearch.nasa.gov/search?u...ing+consensus&m=&affiliate=nasa&commit=Search
The scientists at NASA are upset because the "climate.nasa.gov" website is not posting facts and is undermining the integrity of science - not because they are "ignorant asshole righties". I guess you enjoy calling those aligned with reality names rather than addressing the facts. -- but this has been a continuous problem.