ESS101C
Prof.
Jin-Yi Yu
Factors in Long-Term Evolution of Ice Sheets
qThe long-term evolution of ice sheets reflects the interaction
of two
factors: changes in summer insolation that drive shorter-term changes in ice sheet mass
balance and a much
more gradual global cooling represented by a slowly changing glaciation
threshold.
qIce sheets accumulate when summer insolation falls below a critical glaciation threshold
and melt when
it rises above it.
(from Earth’s Climate: Past and Future)
Due to CO2
changes, for example.