Study Links Earth's Ice Age Cycles to Orbital Changes, Predicts Next in 10,000-11,000 Years

New research reveals how Earth's orbital shifts drive glacial cycles, while human-induced climate change disrupts the planet's natural trajectory.

Scientists have identified a clear connection between Earth's orbital changes—precession, obliquity, and eccentricity—and the timing of ice age cycles over the past million years.
The study confirms that glacial onsets are primarily driven by obliquity, while deglaciations are linked to a combination of precession and obliquity.
The next natural ice age would likely begin in approximately 10,000-11,000 years, but human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have altered this trajectory.
Researchers used oxygen isotope data from deep-sea sediment records to map ice volume changes and correlate them with orbital patterns, uncovering a deterministic cycle rather than a random process.
Findings underscore the importance of understanding natural climate variability to better predict the long-term impacts of human activity on Earth's climate system.