Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions
Published on: March 31, 2023
A minimal conceptual model for glacial-interglacial cycles
Jade Ajagun-Brauns1, Peter Ditlevsen1
1Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
The Pleistocene glacial cycles are believed to be a climatic response to astronomical variations in the incoming solar radiation or insolation. This response is far from linear; thus, intricate internal dynamics of the climate system are at play. MacAyeal (MacAyeal 1979 J. Glaciol. 24, 245-257. (doi:10.3189/S0022143000014775)) proposed a simple nonlinear differential equation as a conceptual model of glacial cycles with a parameter-dependent change of response experienced at the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) from a 41 kyr cyclic response to the present approximately 100 kyr cyclic response to astronomical forcing. However, MacAyeal did not compute numerical solutions of the model. This is presented here, where we test the hypothesis that a structural change, governed by a 'slow' control parameter, 'α', explains the MPT and time-asymmetric (sawtooth-shaped) post-MPT glacial cycles. This article is part of the theme issue 'Critical transitions and intelligent control in complex systems'.
More Related Videos
13:38Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission (L.I.F.E.) as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats
Published on: October 26, 2019
09:06Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside
Published on: July 3, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Global Climate Change
Isothermal Processes
An ideal gas can also undergo isothermal expansion or compression.
For example, consider 1 mole of an ideal gas inside an isolated cylinder at initial volume V...
Isochoric and Isobaric Processes
Suppose 1000 g of water is heated from 40 degrees...
Cyclic Processes And Isolated Systems
In the case of a non-isolated system, the change in the internal energy is zero only if the process is cyclic. A thermodynamic process is considered cyclic if the system undergoes a series of changes and returns to its initial state.
Consider a cyclic process that returns to its initial state, undergoing a four-step process. The heat transfer along each path...
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition