Ice Age Extinction

Sound Bite

Global warming seen from the other side: By the end of the last ice age, the earth had lost most of its large animal species and most of its humans. In a novel approach the author argues that the main cause of this catastrophic extinction was a drastic reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide, due to the long period of cold, and he backs up his theory with scientific explanations given in clear language for the general reader. Many books on the causes of extinction have been published over the last forty years, but none looked at the drop in carbon dioxide.

About the Book

The author explores the causes of Earth's cyclical temperature changes and shows how those temperature shifts touch off a chain of events in the atmosphere, in the oceans and on land. With the Ice Ages, cold temperature was the trigger; and the resultant reduction in carbon dioxide, he argues, was the bullet that killed off so many species.

The re-warming released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and fueled a resurgence.

This book provides significant long-term background data to put global warming into perspective. In addition, the author describes the human responses to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide after the last ice age, and in the last 150 years.

Near the end of the last ice age, atmospheric carbon dioxide was about half of what it is today. Due to the lack of carbon dioxide, most of the vegetation disappeared from the middle and high latitudes. Without plants to eat, many large animals became extinct; North America lost three-fourths of its large animals including the woolly mammoth, mastodon, and saber tooth cat. Humans, too, had little to eat in these areas and their population declined dramatically.

The book then explains how and why atmospheric carbon dioxide increased by about 50% after the last ice age ended, encouraging a population explosion among plants, animals and humans, all of which then migrated into many previously barren areas. More recently, the 28% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide in the last 150 years has enabled a six-fold increase in the human population. Changes in the next 300 years will reverse some of the current trends.

Of all the recent books on climate change, this was the first to focus on the role of low atmospheric carbon dioxide. This book has value for anyone interested in the ice age; mass extinctions; glaciers; the glacial cycle; the atmosphere and oceans; the past and future of plants, animals, and humans. It provides long-term information on atmospheric carbon dioxide, global warming and cooling.

Introduction

Ice Age Extinction: Cause and Human Consequences by Jim Snook offers an in-depth look at the powerful effects Earth's cyclical temperature changes have had on our planet’s climate, ecosystems, and human societies. This book explores the complex interactions between temperature shifts, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and their profound impacts on both ancient and modern environments.

Snook takes readers on a journey through the chain reaction that cold temperatures set off across the atmosphere, oceans, and landscapes. He focuses on how these shifts in temperature caused a drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which he argues was a key driver behind the mass extinction of numerous species. During the Ice Age, the decrease in carbon dioxide levels had devastating effects on plant life, leading to the decline of large herbivorous animals. The woolly mammoth, mastodon, and saber-toothed cat are just a few examples of the species that disappeared from North America due to these dramatic climatic changes.

The book also provides important historical context for today’s discussions on global warming. By illustrating how lower levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide once led to a collapse in vegetation and the loss of large animal species, Snook offers a historical perspective on the critical relationship between carbon dioxide levels and ecological balance. He draws striking parallels between the ice ages of the past and our present-day situation, showing how rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have similarly significant impacts on plants, animals, and human societies.

As the Ice Age ended, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere began to climb again, leading to a resurgence in plant life and a subsequent boom in animal and human populations. Snook explains how this increase in carbon dioxide sparked a period of population growth and migration into areas that were previously uninhabitable. This revival of vegetation and wildlife marked a crucial turning point in Earth's ecological history, offering valuable insights into current climate trends.

In the modern era, Snook highlights the 28% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last 150 years and its correlation with a six-fold increase in the human population. He delves into the implications of this rapid rise in carbon dioxide, discussing its effects on global warming, population dynamics, and ecological change. By understanding these historical patterns, Snook argues, we can gain crucial insights into future climate scenarios and better prepare for the environmental challenges that lie ahead.

Ice Age Extinction extends its relevance beyond prehistoric studies, making it essential reading for anyone interested in the broader consequences of climate change. Snook’s detailed analysis covers the effects on glaciers, the glacial cycle, and the atmosphere, providing a thorough understanding of how past climate events have shaped life on Earth. This historical perspective is key to grasping the full implications of current climate changes and planning for future challenges.

Ice Age Extinction offers readers invaluable information on the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide, global warming, and cooling. By connecting historical events with current trends, the book underscores the importance of learning from past climate patterns to tackle today’s environmental issues.

In summary, Jim Snook’s Ice Age Extinction: Cause and Human Consequences is a vital contribution to the study of climate history and its effects on life on Earth. The book provides a thorough examination of how changes in temperature and carbon dioxide levels have shaped the planet's ecological and human history. With its focus on the Ice Age extinction event and its lasting consequences, this book offers an essential perspective on the critical relationship between climate change and ecological stability.