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ICE AGE DEFINITIONS

Conference Paper December 2010

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4740.6240

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3 authors, including:

Milivoj B. Gavrilov Slobodan Markovic

University of Novi Sad University of Novi Sad
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 Ice Ages Definitions

Milivoj B. Gavrilov1
Slobodan B. Markovi1
Momilo M. Gavrilov2

1Chair of Physical Geography, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg D. Obradovia 3, 21000 Novi Sad
2Faculty of Physics University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
 1. Phenomenological definition
Present definition

Imbrie J. and K. P. Imbrie,

1979: Ice Ages Solving
the Mystery
 1. Phenomenological definition
Generalization
Under the Ice Age is considered a period of several hundred to
several thousand years in which there are layers of ice that
extend from the polar regions toward lower latitudes of about
sea level to several tens and hundreds meters above and below
sea level and the seasonal and more seasonal climate changes
no major influence on the overall condition of the ice and total
ice changes are gradual and visible only in the more yearly
intervals.
Both definitions will be referred to phenomenological because
it is based only on the description of the Ice Ages.
 1. Phenomenological definition

Problem
Strictly speaking phenomenological definition says that an Ice Age period when there are layers
of ice thousands of years.
For example, in the last 600,000 years was 4-5 Ice Ages and Inter Ice Ages. At the same time,
over this period there was always permanent ice according to the phenomenological definition.

The last Ice Age

20,000 years ago.

The present
distribution of ice.

This definition speaks to the variability of the ice, but does not speak about the causes of origin
of the ice. This definition is very rich in words, but it has poor content.
 1. Phenomenological definition
Questions
Phenomenological definition, as well as theory and practice based
on this definition, can not answers on the two/four questions:
(1) What amount of permanent ice will be there to be an Ice Age?
(2) How permanent ice should last that it would be an Ice Age?
(3/4) The same questions (1) and (2) apply to the Inter Ice Age.

Answers
How to answer the above questions require some quantitative
criteria, it seems better to introduce a new definition, than to
modify the phenomenological definition.

The following discussion will propose two definitions of Ice Ages.

Both will be based on physical causes of Ice Ages.
 2. Thermodynamic definition
Thermodynamic definition is based on the heat budget (Bp) of the
Earth, as the relationship between the received (R) and send (S) heat
over period (p) or
Bp=R/S.

Then, there are three cases:

- warming period, when receiving heat greater than it sends (Bp>1),
- cooling period, when receiving heat less than it sends (Bp<1),
- equilibrium period, when receives and sends heat are same (Bp=1),
where there are two different sub-cases;
- hot equilibrium occurs after a period of warming and
- cold equilibrium occurs after a period of cooling.
 2. Thermodynamic definition
Graphical presentation

This definition is universal. It is not related to the presence of ice. As such it can be
applied to other planets.
 3. Insolation definition
Insolation definition is based on the observations
Milankovi and/or Berger mean insolation (I) in a whole
paleoclimatological period and mean insolation (Ip) in a
sub-periods (p). Can form a relation
Lp=Ip/I.
Then, there are three cases:
- warming period, when Ip is greater than I (Lp>1),
- cooling period, when Ip is less than I (Lp<1),
- equilibrium period, when Ip and I are same (Lp=1),
where there are two different sub-cases;
- hot equilibrium occurs after a period of warming and
- cold equilibrium occurs after a period of cooling.
 3. Insolation definition
Graphical presentation

This definition is universal. It is not related to the presence of ice. As such it can be
applied to other planets.
 4. Conclusion

Combining thermodynamic and insolacione definitions of Ice Age, can

be obtained answers to previous questions:

(1) What amount of permanent ice will be there to be an Ice Age?

(2) How permanent ice should last that it would be an Ice Age?

In the end, all together would help to make good forecasts of Ice Ages.

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