The Ice Age and global warming
Ice ages are periodically replaced by stages of global warming. When these stages come, there is almost no ice on Earth. Ice can only be found at the poles and on the tops of large mountains.
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When the ice ages came, they captured the territories that are now Canada, the northern United States, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Belarus, as well as most of Russia. There were also ice-covered territories closer to the equator. For example, the rocky Mountains in North America.
The Ice Age and global warming. Once upon a time there was a real ice age in these mountains. Although, even now there is snow almost all year round. Photo.
Once upon a time there was a real ice age in these mountains. Although, even now there is snow almost all year round.
There was not so much ice in the southern hemisphere. This is primarily due to the fact that the area of the continents is smaller there. However, the Andes were covered with ice.
The oceans near the poles were not completely covered with a thick layer of ice. There was more of it than there is now, but the difference was not as significant as many people think. In addition, the amount of ice in the ocean was seasonal. In the summer months, as in our time, even in the Arctic Ocean there were large areas free of ice.
Ice ages had a serious impact on our planet. Of course, they did not move continents or change the coastline, but given their constant impact, it accumulated and was quite significant. The landscape changed not only after earthquakes, meteorite falls and shifting tectonic plates, but also from the millions of tons of ice that pressed on it.
When did scientists learn about the ice Ages
The first talk that there were ice ages on Earth appeared in the middle of the XIX century. One of those who discovered this phenomenon was Louis Agassiz. He was a Swiss geologist and studied Alpine glaciers. In the course of his research, he came to the conclusion that once upon a time the amount of ice in these mountains was significantly greater than in his time.
When scientists learned about the ice ages. Thanks to this man, we knew that there were ice ages. Louis Agassiz. Years of life — 1807-1873. Photo.
Thanks to this man, we knew that there were ice ages. Louis Agassiz. Years of life — 1807-1873.
About the same time, another Swiss, Jean de Charpentier, thought about it with him. The fact that they were from this country is not a coincidence. This mountain range passes through the territory of their country.
The first serious scientific work on this topic can be considered the book of Agassiz. It was published in 1840 and in it he spoke in detail about his theory of the ice age. Four years later, he released another book in which he shared his new developments and developed the original idea. Before the publication of these books, he published only articles. For example, in 1937 his first article was published, called “The Theory of Glaciers”. In it, he first raised the issue of large glaciers. Many people took his works skeptically, but eventually accepted them. Especially when new evidence of his conclusions began to emerge.
