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Ice Amplification
A popular hypothesis is that CO2 forcing amplifies periodic influences of orbit and axis
As evidenced by hemispheric differences, small changes in reflectivity have big consequences
This is confirmed by energy balance modeling
Surface ice and snow reflects a lot of energy
- Positive feedback reinforces this effect
Models show that the ebb and flow of northern hemisphere surface snow and ice provides all of the required amplification
Notes:
The CO2 forcing hypothesis has been misconstrued by many to be a scientific fact. It's actually a guess driven by the assumption of anthropgenic forcing, supported primarily by the coincidental concurrence of a warmer climate and mans CO2 emissions
A closed loop thermodynamic model of the Earth shows that the ebb and flow of Northern hemisphere ice, by altering reflectivity and increasing the hemispheric asymmetry, amplifies the consequences of asymmetric incident solar energy. The relatively small asymmetry of today already results in more than a 4˚C difference between average Northern and Southern hemisphere temperatures, even after a 4˚C offset from increased incident solar energy in the Southern hemisphere.
A 4 season ice cap covering the top 30 degrees of the planet will cause the global average temperature to drop by more than 8˚C before even considering the effects of solar variability.