Chapter 1: The Myths Surrounding Climate Change

There is considerable misunderstanding regarding climate change, particularly in social media and popular media outlets. Many people assert that human activities, such as vehicle emissions and livestock methane, have no impact on the warming of our planet, attributing it solely to natural processes.

While it is true that Earth's average temperature fluctuates due to various natural factors, one significant contributor to recent temperature increases is known as ‘Milankovitch cycles’. These cycles refer to variations in Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

The gravitational forces exerted by the large planets, Jupiter and Saturn, influence the shape of Earth’s orbit, making it more elliptical at times. Currently, our orbit is nearly circular, resulting in a consistent distribution of sunlight throughout the year. In approximately 50,000 years, as the orbit becomes more elongated, we will experience increased solar radiation in January when we are closest to the Sun and decreased sunlight in July, leading to minor temperature changes.

A more substantial factor affecting our climate is Earth’s axial tilt, which creates the seasons. This tilt also undergoes long-term variations, swinging between greater and lesser angles. A more pronounced tilt results in more severe seasonal variations, contributing to the warming of the planet, while a lesser tilt promotes cooler global conditions.

Presently, we find ourselves about 200 years into a transition from a significant tilt to a lesser tilt. This suggests that for the next 9,800 years, we should be experiencing a cooling trend. Such cycles occur over tens of thousands of years and significantly influence the polar ice caps, playing a key role in the onset of ice ages and warmer interglacial periods.

Over the past 800,000 years, ice ages have occurred roughly every 100,000 years, with warmer phases in between. For the last several thousand years, we have been enjoying a relatively mild climate. In fact, we have been gradually moving away from this pleasant climate toward a future ice age, expected to occur in about 40,000 years. By that time, humanity may have advanced to living on Mars, or as it may be humorously renamed, ‘Elon’.

Given the Milankovitch cycles, we should currently be experiencing cooling rather than warming.

So, when someone claims that climate change is a hoax, stating that it is merely a consequence of solar cycles, you can counter with the fact that, according to these cycles, Earth should be cooling, but instead, it is warming rapidly.

They may not appreciate your informed rebuttal, as not everyone enjoys being corrected. However, when faced with the realities of failing crops, rising sea levels, and increasingly uninhabitable areas, it becomes clear that understanding the science behind climate change is crucial. Ultimately, it is the informed individuals who will help us navigate these pressing challenges.

Chapter 2: The Implications of Climate Change

Section 1.1: The Science Behind Milankovitch Cycles

In-depth exploration of how Milankovitch cycles affect Earth’s climate over geological timescales, including orbital shape and axial tilt.

Subsection 1.1.1: Visual Representation of Earth’s Orbit