The repeated advance and retreat of ice sheets in North America and globally occurred as part of glacial–interglacial cycles, during which climate alternated between colder and warmer states. These were primarily driven by Milankovitch cycles1,2, which describe periodic changes in Earth’s orbit and orientation relative to the Sun, particularly affecting summer solar radiation in the […]
Milankovitch Cycles Read More »
By Jakob Hamann Introduction Large parts of North America have been covered by glaciers and ice sheets in the past. Over roughly the last 2.6 million years – an interval known as the Quaternary Period1 – glaciers advanced and retreated repeatedly as climate shifted between colder and warmer conditions2. During colder intervals, ice sheets expanded
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During the Quaternary Period, North America was covered by three ice sheets: the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, Laurentide Ice Sheet and Innuitian Ice Sheet. During the last glacial cycle, these ice sheets were the world’s largest ice masses, driving huge and important changes in global sea level, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and influencing the movement and
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What is climate? | Quaternary climates | Is our climate changing? | The Role of Carbon Dioxide | Climate change in Antarctica | Observed impacts of climate change | References | Comments | What is climate? First, it is important here to note the differences between weather and climate. Weather is local and what you
