Nevertheless, the field of investigation of the Earth’s past climates remains an important
area of research with many questions being raised about the causes of climate reorganizations
throughout the Earth’s history. Even though several chapters clearly show recent breakthroughs in our understanding of past climate changes, and the sensitivity of our models to
climate data has undeniably increased the extent to which we can rely on their outputs, we can
legitimately question what they contribute to future climate. Chapter 10 addresses these issues.
Will the ice caps, which have existed on Earth for only a short time relative to geological time,
withstand human disturbance? And can this disturbance, apart from its own duration, have an
impact on the rhythm of glacial–interglacial cycles?
At the end of these two volumes, you will have obtained the relevant perspective to project
into the Earth’s climates of the future. Indeed, by absorbing the most up-to-date knowledge of
paleoclimatology in this book, you will be provided with the necessary objectivity to critically
assess present and future climate changes. It will also give you the scientific bases to allow you
to exercise your critical judgment on the environmental and climatic issues that will be
fundamental in the years to come. Indeed, in the context of the Anthropocene, a period where
man’s influence has grown to become the major factor in climate change, the accumulated
knowledge of the climate history of our planet gathered here is precious.
Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Gilles Ramstein
Amaëlle Landais
Nathaelle Bouttes
Pierre Sepulchre
Aline Govin
Preface
xvii
area of research with many questions being raised about the causes of climate reorganizations
throughout the Earth’s history. Even though several chapters clearly show recent breakthroughs in our understanding of past climate changes, and the sensitivity of our models to
climate data has undeniably increased the extent to which we can rely on their outputs, we can
legitimately question what they contribute to future climate. Chapter 10 addresses these issues.
Will the ice caps, which have existed on Earth for only a short time relative to geological time,
withstand human disturbance? And can this disturbance, apart from its own duration, have an
impact on the rhythm of glacial–interglacial cycles?
At the end of these two volumes, you will have obtained the relevant perspective to project
into the Earth’s climates of the future. Indeed, by absorbing the most up-to-date knowledge of
paleoclimatology in this book, you will be provided with the necessary objectivity to critically
assess present and future climate changes. It will also give you the scientific bases to allow you
to exercise your critical judgment on the environmental and climatic issues that will be
fundamental in the years to come. Indeed, in the context of the Anthropocene, a period where
man’s influence has grown to become the major factor in climate change, the accumulated
knowledge of the climate history of our planet gathered here is precious.
Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Gilles Ramstein
Amaëlle Landais
Nathaelle Bouttes
Pierre Sepulchre
Aline Govin
Preface
xvii