Science

Earth's hemispheres may have worked together to drive past ice ages

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 22/10/2026, 18:10:24 UTC.

Briefings

University of St Andrews research published in the Journal of Climate on October 22, 2026, proposes that Northern Hemisphere ice sheets and Southern Hemisphere sea ice interacted to influence past ice ages. The study suggests this interaction altered atmospheric CO2 levels, potentially driving climate shifts. The findings address a long-standing challenge in climate science regarding the spatial separation of these two hemispheres.

Key points

• A new process links Northern Hemisphere ice sheets to Southern Hemisphere sea ice changes, which in turn affect atmospheric CO2 levels.
• This interaction may have driven past ice ages, though the exact mechanism and timing remain uncertain.

Context

The University of St Andrews study challenges the traditional view that ice ages are driven solely by Northern Hemisphere factors. By connecting Southern Hemisphere sea ice to Northern Hemisphere ice sheets, the research offers a new mechanism for climate variability.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single published article from October 2026. Specific dates for the ice age events are not provided, and the causal link between the two hemispheres remains a hypothesis rather than a confirmed fact.

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