A miniature ice age may come on Earth, scientists warn. Between 2020 and 2030, new research has shown that solar cycles can neutralize each other, leading to a phenomenon known as the Maunder Minimum. What it is? But the main thing is how to prevent this?
When the new ice age comes
A new model of solar activity that scientists have developed shows a violation of the 11-year cycle. She describes special effects in two layers of the Sun, due to which this star will not be able to heat us for some time in the same way as it has done for the past hundreds of years. According to experts, by 2030, solar activity will decrease by 60 percent, which will lead to the Little Ice Age. The results of the study were presented at a meeting of astronomers in Wales.
The researchers say that in the 26th solar cycle, which occurs between 2020 and 2030, the two waves of the Sun cancel each other out. As a result of their destructive interaction, a significant decrease in solar activity will occur (that is, it will become noticeably colder on the Earth) and a new Maunder Minimum will come.
The Maunder minimum is a phenomenon of long-term decrease in the number of sunspots, which already occurred from 1645 to 1715. Then even the Thames River in London froze over! Waves can be in phase and increase the activity of the Sun, or, conversely, be out of phase and reduce solar activity to a minimum: in the latter case, the Little Ice Age begins.
Global warming will cause an ice age
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Now it seems strange, because we all see what heat is now in the same Europe. And the area of Antarctic sea ice at the beginning of this year dropped to 5.5 million square kilometers, which is at least almost 40 years of observation. But experts are most worried about the rate at which ocean temperatures are rising. As the absorptive capacity of the ocean decreases, heat begins to accumulate in the atmosphere. And this leads to a violation of the thermal balance of the Earth.
Melting glaciers in Antarctica, 2019.
How will global warming cause an ice age? The rapid melting of glaciers will disrupt the circulation of warm currents. After that, the temperature in Europe, North America and around the world will drop noticeably: a violation of the circulation of warm currents will lead to the impossibility of transferring heat from the equator to Europe and North America. But the worst thing will happen if the Gulf Stream completely stops - the main warm current that forms the warm climate in European countries. As strange as it may sound, global warming will subsequently lead to a cooling.
How to prevent an ice age
In fact, little depends on a person. Even if we reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, we cannot influence the processes that occur in the Sun. And if you try to stop the warming, solar activity will drop sooner or later. If scientists have found a violation of the 11-year cycle, then it is. Another question is whether everything will definitely be as bad as they say? So far, no one undertakes to talk about it.
How to survive the ice age
At one time, the Neanderthals managed to survive the harsh ice age. Why are we worse? In their case, due to active hunting and the risk of running into predators, injuries were an integral part of life. If they neglected the wounded and treated them as an unnecessary burden, they simply would not survive. As a rule, Neanderthals kept in groups, and the loss of even one member was considered a disaster. Simply put, they survived by caring for each other.
Alexander Bogdanov
