Past Climate

The Last Glacial Cycle

During the past 2 million years Earth ice sheet’s have been continuously growing – covering considerable parts of North America, Europe and Asia – and shrinking. At the maximum of the last glaciation about 21,000 years ago, when large quantities of water were stored in these ice sheets, global sea level was approximately 120 m (394 ft) lower than today. →

Tambora Eruption 1815

Mount Tambora is an active volcano on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Its eruption in the year 1815 was the largest in recorded history. →

Orbital forcing: Obliquity

Even before humans started affecting it, climate on Earth was not always the same. Climate changes occur due to internal processes, such as air-sea interactions (see ENSO under Present-day climate), or external factors, such as the eruption of volcanoes. →

Obliquity’s effect on climate

Even before humans started affecting it, climate on Earth was not always the same. Climate changes occur due to internal processes, such as air-sea interactions (see ENSO under Present-day climate), or external factors, such as the eruption of volcanoes. →

Orbital forcing: Precession

Even before humans started affecting it, climate on Earth was not always the same. Climate changes occur due to internal processes, such as air-sea interactions (see ENSO under Present-day climate), or external factors, such as the eruption of volcanoes. →

Orbital forcing: Eccentricity

Even before humans started affecting it, climate on Earth was not always the same. Climate changes occur due to internal processes, such as air-sea interactions (see ENSO under Present-day climate), or external factors, such as the eruption of volcanoes. →