3 ms·

We're in an interglacial, awaiting a new ice age. If history [1] is anything to go by we're at the trailing end of the warmest period of the Holocene epoch [2].

We're in an interglacial, awaiting a new ice age. If history [1] is anything to go by we're at the trailing end of the warmest period of the Holocene epoch [2]. Depending on how this interglacial develops the temperature will either gradually decrease into a new ice age (i.e. follow the same pattern as the Pleistocene) or rebound for a second peak (like the Pliocene, Eocene and Paleocene interglacials). At the end of the Holocene interglacial the ice will return for the remainder of the epoch. [1] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Co2_glacial_cycles_800k.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Co2_glac... [2] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Holocene_Temperature_Variations.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Holocene...

cs702 5y ago
I believe you are using the terminology incorrectly. According to Wikipedia, we currently are in an an ice age that began approximately 2.6 million years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_glaciation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_glaciation Within this ice age, we've had glacial and inter-glacial periods. For example, Europe's "Little Ice Age" was a glacial period within this ice age: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age Currently, we're in an inter-glacial period.
- the_third_wave 5y ago
  Could be, I interpret "interglacial" literally, as being "between two ice ages". Were we in an actual ice age the same etymology would produce the term "intraglacial", a word I've never seen but that might be because written language was not yet a thing when there were people living in that circumstance.
  - mullingitover 5y ago
    > Could be, I interpret "interglacial" literally, as being "between two ice ages" Pretty sure the literal interpretation of 'interglacial' is 'between glaciation.' Literal 'between two ice ages' would be 'inter-ice age.'
    - shkkmo 5y ago
      There is a conflict between the popular and scientific meaning of "ice age" that seems to be tripping the two of you up. If you are going to get into a semantic debate about related meanings, you should clarify the specific meaning you ate intending.
      - the_third_wave 5y ago
        I don't think there is a need for any debate, it is after all clear what we mean: an ice age is the whole cycle (interglacial + glacial), glacial is the period of maximum ice coverage, interglacial is the period of minimum ice coverage. In the common vernacular "ice age" equals the glacial period.

cs702 5y ago

I believe you are using the terminology incorrectly. According to Wikipedia, we currently are in an an ice age that began approximately 2.6 million years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_glaciation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_glaciation Within this ice age, we've had glacial and inter-glacial periods. For example, Europe's "Little Ice Age" was a glacial period within this ice age: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age Currently, we're in an inter-glacial period.

the_third_wave 5y ago
Could be, I interpret "interglacial" literally, as being "between two ice ages". Were we in an actual ice age the same etymology would produce the term "intraglacial", a word I've never seen but that might be because written language was not yet a thing when there were people living in that circumstance.
- mullingitover 5y ago
  > Could be, I interpret "interglacial" literally, as being "between two ice ages" Pretty sure the literal interpretation of 'interglacial' is 'between glaciation.' Literal 'between two ice ages' would be 'inter-ice age.'
  - shkkmo 5y ago
    There is a conflict between the popular and scientific meaning of "ice age" that seems to be tripping the two of you up. If you are going to get into a semantic debate about related meanings, you should clarify the specific meaning you ate intending.
    - the_third_wave 5y ago
      I don't think there is a need for any debate, it is after all clear what we mean: an ice age is the whole cycle (interglacial + glacial), glacial is the period of maximum ice coverage, interglacial is the period of minimum ice coverage. In the common vernacular "ice age" equals the glacial period.