Snowball Earth

A new 2026 study suggests that even during “Snowball Earth” phases, short climate cycles continued operating.

  • The term “Snowball Earth” describes a phase when ice possibly covered oceans, including tropical latitudes.
  • In this state, ocean-atmosphere interactions and climate feedback systems were likely greatly weakened by widespread ice cover.
  • Researchers analysed 2,640 thin sediment layers, interpreting them as annual varves formed by seasonal melt cycles.
  • Thickness variations in these layers revealed short climate cycles despite global-scale freezing conditions.
  • The data showed 9-11 year cycles matching the modern sunspot cycle.
  • Longer 60-150 year cycles resembled the Gleissberg solar cycle affecting sunspot ....
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