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There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
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Klebert L. Hall
12/03/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
This is unnecessarily alarmist.
-Kle.
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
I need to be That Guy on the Internet:

Lake Agassiz.

After the famous geologist. Respect!

#lakeagassiz
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Edited by Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. at 12/02/09 3:54 PM

bookwench
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
Cold is more survivable than hot, honestly. I only hope we get an ice age instead of global warming... much, much easier for warm-blooded species to survive an ice age.
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braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.
12/03/09

@bookwench: Hypothetically, yeah, but the famines would probably be bad news.
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bookwench
12/03/09

@braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.: Absolutely. But I expect there would be as many famines from global warming as from an ice age.... at least with the ice age they're not accompanied by waves of tropical disease and insect swarms.
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JesusDeSaad
12/03/09

@bookwench: then again...

In a global warming disaster we can always install solar panels to power up a/c units. When all else fails, there's always the sun.

In a global ice age, once we're out of power, we're screwed.
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bookwench
12/03/09

@JesusDeSaad: You've never lived anyplace where it snowed, have you? Snow reflects solar energy extremely efficiently. Solar power would work fantastically in cold conditions. And it's much easier to heat a confined space, like a greenhouse, than it is to cool a similar space.
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JesusDeSaad
12/03/09

@bookwench: my bad, i meant those solar/heat panel hybrids that amass energy much faster.

Oh well, I now also weighed water shortage, so I must side with extreme cold.
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Dirk Anger
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
Only one comment denying climate change? How disappointing
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cylon_conspiracy
12/02/09

@Dirk Anger: I think this is io9's way of acknowledging the story.
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Edited by cylon_conspiracy at 12/02/09 11:02 AM cylon_conspiracy was starred cylon_conspiracy was unstarred

Daveinva
12/02/09

@Dirk Anger: Sorry, I deleted all my denial comments. And emails. And raw data.
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Vexxarr
12/02/09

@Dirk Anger: Debate is not denial. I'm not expert but I do have occasion to video science conferences. Climatologists are divided on the issue of current anthropogenic influence. None really debate the theory - that it could happen. The issue is whether it is happening now.

One conference I worked last year had an Antarctic researcher who arued convincingly that the Antarctic region has shown no lasting change - the area has been in flux for as far back as the ice cores go. He cautioned though that this didn't mean full speed ahead. He simply said there is no excuse for misrepresenting the facts even in the name of a noble cause.

I'm as green as you can get but I don't think we need to cause a human disaster by trying to prevent a climate disaster. And as I stated before - I'm a nuclear whore so take my perspective with a grain of salt...preferably molten.
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SJ_Edwards promoted this comment Edited by Vexxarr at 12/02/09 3:52 PM Vexxarr was starred Vexxarr was unstarred

SJ_Edwards
12/02/09

@Vexxarr: At last! A molten salt reactor pun!
May all your fuel cycles be thorium and all your salts be chloride-35 free.
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reddingofish
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
13000 or so years ago? That fits into the History Channel's 12000 year galactic core alignment cycle.
Everyone, get into the ark now!
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Ruthless, If you let me
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
I am a heat generating dynamo; bring it!
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SuperTuna
12/02/09

@Ruthless, If you let me: Same here - wife is almost always complaining that she goes to bed with a micro-sun.

Btw - if we do get his with a hyper fast ice age...I've seen Day after Tomorrow.

1 - Listen to the boy.
2 - Don't go looking for the boy.
3 - CG wolves of the future look terrible and can be ignored.
4 - Be sure to quote Jackson's "Deep Blue" line at least once a day.
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Ruthless, If you let me promoted this comment SuperTuna was starred SuperTuna was unstarred

Ruthless, If you let me
12/02/09

@SuperTuna: My wife never had need for a heating blanket, only needed me half way under the covers...
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Chip Overclock
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
I noticed that THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW is referenced in the tags for this article, but no one has mentioned it yet... are we to assume now that that movie wasn't just another disaster spectacle?
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Ed Grabianowski
12/02/09

@Chip Overclock: It was, in fact, a documentary.
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reddingofish
12/02/09

@Ed Grabianowski: a futurementry.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

@reddingofish: Wait. You mean to say that wolves will look like bad CGIs in the future?
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reddingofish
12/02/09

@LittleDragon: And they will have glowing red eyes and they will be able to talk.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

@reddingofish: Well I won't mind so much if they can talk and have glowing red eyes. If they were just bad CGI I would be sad.
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ceilingFANBOY
12/05/09

@Chip Overclock: "And you still can't outrun cold. "

[io9.com]
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Wookie1972
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
As someone who lives literally smack dab in the middle of what used to be Lake Aggasiz, I say big deal - it will just mean our winter will be the whole year long instead of six months.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

@Wookie1972: As the former inhabitant of Snowy Montana and current resident of Snowless New Mexico, it would mean finally getting a winter.
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EdificeComplex
12/02/09

@LittleDragon: As a Michigan inhabitant I will gladly loan you ours.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

@EdificeComplex: I would gladly take it. You arrange the climate chance and I will get my snow boots and snow shovel.
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EdificeComplex
12/02/09

@LittleDragon: Unfortunately my weather domination machine isn't operational yet. However, if we pivot the U.S. about a point along the Nebraska/Kansas border Michigan and New Mexico will change places. The resulting earthquakes may kill millions of people, but that's a small price to pay for our own personal gains.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

@EdificeComplex: What price? That may be an improvement. Fewer people to rebel against us as our march toward world domination continues. And I am sure the Alaskans will thank us for moving them into a warmer climate. And its not so much personal gains as personal comfort.
Now should we just enlarge the panama canal or should we just destroy most of central America?
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EdificeComplex
12/02/09

@LittleDragon: At first I thought just destroy Central America. But once the rotation occurs Central America will be roughly where the North Pole is. Frozen rain forests could serve well as a place to detain political prisoners. Or as a secret Ice Station Zero. So enlarging the Panama Canal it is.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hope up. I will not get my hopes up. I want a Ice Age!!!!
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Roklimber
12/02/09

@LittleDragon:

LOL... you just reminded me of a joke. Suffice it to say that it ends with this:

No! Don't! Please, don't! Stop! Don't! Stop! No, please, don't stop! Don't stop!
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TheClap
12/02/09

@LittleDragon: It wont be like the movie.

Unless youre thinking of Empire Strikes Back, because it could be a lot like that, sans imperial walkers (or maybe not *fingers crossed*)
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LittleDragon promoted this comment TheClap was starred TheClap was unstarred

LittleDragon
12/02/09

@Roklimber: LOL. I think I have told that joke before. Or at least the first part. I let others say that last line.
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LittleDragon
12/02/09

@TheClap: I was thinking more Hoth then cartoon. But I will not sleep inside a TaunTaun. Takes forever to get their guts out of your hair.
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Roklimber
12/02/09

@LittleDragon:

" I will not sleep inside a TaunTaun. Takes forever to get their guts out of your hair."

Not to mention the smell...
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TheClap
12/02/09

@LittleDragon: Never fear, by combining modern technology and human ingenuity we have been able to develop a system that not only keeps you as warm as the inside of the tauntaun you are riding, but prevents you from causing those around you to choke on your stench.

[gizmodo.com]
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Roklimber
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
If the weather in Denmark over the last 3 years is any indication, we're *not* heading for an ice age.

My first winter here was very cold, my second winter here was less cold, but still cold enough to produce a good amount of snow. This year, the danish weather service is predicting that we might not even have a white christmas, that is, the temperature might be warm enough that we won't have any significant amount of snow.

Incidentally, today was a particularly cold day compared to recent weeks, but not as cold as I recall from last year and the year before, at this time.

Here's a 15-day forecast for Copenhagen, if anyone is interested enough to check out:

[www.accuweather.com]
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ubermex
12/02/09

@Roklimber: Did you even read the article? The warming causes a melt which triggers the ice age. Without the ocean currents bringing warm water north, it freezes solid up there.
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Roklimber
12/02/09

@ubermex:

To be honest, not entirely.

I was midway through the 4th paragraph when I was interrupted by a phone call. After the call was over I forgot that I hadn't finished reading the article and just made my post.

Had I read it all the way through, I'd had seen the part about global warming being the cause of a sudden ice age.

Thanks for pointing it out. I'd not have re-read the article if someone hadn't pointed out the fact that I was jumping to conclusions.
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The_Sporean_Bob
12/03/09

@Roklimber: Hey, no jumping to conclusions without the Jump to Conclusions mat!
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Roklimber
12/03/09

@The_Sporean_Bob:

My search for the appropriate material to make a "jump to conclusions" mat was inconclusive so, no, I didn't have one. :)
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aubreyf
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
I'll believe it when icy it.
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DiExMachina
12/02/09

@aubreyf: *facepalm*
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Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.
12/02/09

@aubreyf: awesome.
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aubreyf
12/02/09

@DiExMachina: What, you thought my comment was snow good?
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OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
12/02/09

@DiExMachina: Dont be so cold hearted.
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jajbowler
12/02/09

@aubreyf: I hope these first two puns are just the tip of the iceberg.
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Ed Grabianowski
12/02/09

@aubreyf: All hail aubreyf.
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RandomFrequentFlierDent
12/02/09

@jajbowler: Something tells me she'll only be stopping once hell freezes over.
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Spaceboy
12/02/09

@OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear:

Yes, that comment was just frigid.
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Bigdamnhero promoted this comment Spaceboy was starred Spaceboy was unstarred

Fwiffo
12/02/09

@DiExMachina: Oh come on man! That was wide open for "Icy what you did there"

What a waste.
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Darklighter
12/02/09

@jajbowler: Every time I see one of these puns, ice cream.
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DiExMachina
12/02/09

@Fwiffo: Aw man, I was snow blind not to see that comment. My mind must have been drifting around too much. There will be snow blowing a comment by me like that again.

.....AVALANCHE!!!

Sorry couldn't think of a way to work that into a sentence.
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Bigdamnhero
12/02/09

@aubreyf: Well, glacier thought it was clever.
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Grey_Area
12/02/09

@Bigdamnhero: It certainly produced a flurry of comments.
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TotalFanGirl
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
Oh goody, an ice age. Take that global warming!
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browncoat001
12/02/09

@TotalFanGirl: Silly, Global Warming causes Ice Ages. Also it makes the Earth wetter, drier, colder, warmer, more windy, less windy. sunnier, cloudier, and everything else. Global Warming, there is nothing it cannot do!
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TotalFanGirl
12/02/09

@browncoat001: You are, of course, absolutely correct. Let's not forget it also gave us Mr. Super Environmentallity Man. I have this cape. It's blue and green with a little earth on the back and swirly clouds. I would give it to Mr. Gore, but he's too busy making guest appearances on 30 Rock.....
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Jes St.Lawrence
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
"But researchers at the University of Saskatchewan recently discovered that some ice ages come on quite rapidly."

Usually in late October.
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Kenneth Duane Bewley
12/02/09

@Jes St.Lawrence: Maybe in your fancy northern hemisphere.
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Dr Emilio Lizardo
12/02/09

@Jes St.Lawrence: Yeah, if you're in Saskathewan, two things are pretty certain:

1) an ice age is just around the corner.
2) your car is broken.

I keed, I keed, never been there.
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goldfarb
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
interesting...
when I first read this I thought "Canadian scientists...two months from now...um, these guys are predicting what we usually call 'Winter'"
:)
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FrankenPC
12/02/09

In reply to There Could Be an Ice Age Two Months from Now
This theory has been around since 1985. I'm glad to see evidence of it. People need to get their heads out of their butts regarding climate change. Regardless of the cause, it can happen at any time and we are ill prepared for it.
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ProfessorSara
12/02/09

@FrankenPC: I am thoroughly prepared to outrace the cold by running into a library and firmly slamming the door. That will work. Hollywood says so.
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Jes St.Lawrence
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: ... and burning the tax code.
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aubreyf
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: Put a chair in front of the door just in case.
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Traveshamockery
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: My stock of old leatherbound books will sustain me through any ice age as long as Emmy Rossum is locked in there with me.
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ProfessorSara
12/02/09

@aubreyf: I suspect I should also get a dog, for added poignancy.
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ProfessorSara
12/02/09

@Jes St.Lawrence: I think the 2009 version would be burning the different health care plans.
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OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: You think water moves fast? You should see ice. It moves like it has a mind. Like it knows it killed the world once and got a taste for murder.

Nature is lethal but it doesn't hold a candle to man.
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FrankenPC
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: Library doors are frost proof, fire proof, and flood proof. It's a fact. That I made up.
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ProfessorSara
12/02/09

@FrankenPC: How do library doors hold up to zombies? It would be nice to know, just in case.
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FrankenPC
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: Human zombies or alien zombies?
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ProfessorSara
12/02/09

@FrankenPC: Human, duh. Like alien zombies are remotely possible.
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FrankenPC
12/02/09

@ProfessorSara: Ok, then yes.
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