Changes

'''Climate cycles''' are natural trends in which [[temperature]]s fluctuate on large time-scales. It can range from minor fluctuations over a few centuries to massive shifts in climate over thousands of years.

'''Climate cycles''' are natural trends in which [[temperature]]s fluctuate on large time-scales. It can range from minor fluctuations over a few centuries to massive shifts in climate over thousands of years.

Using proxy data from various natural sources (including deuterium content in ice cores, calcium content and thickness of sea shells and tree ring growth data) we can establish that these cycles do exist, and that they occur for several reasons, perhaps the most prominent of which is the Milkanovitch cycle.

Using proxy data from various natural sources (including deuterium content in ice cores, calcium content and thickness of sea shells and tree ring growth data) we can establish that these cycles do exist, and that they occur for several reasons, perhaps the most prominent of which is the Milankovitch cycle.

However, whilst the variation over large time-scales is extreme (deviating from the long-term average by as much as ten degrees Celsius at a time), the changes are usually very gradual and take place over many millennia.

However, whilst the variation over large time-scales is extreme (deviating from the long-term average by as much as ten degrees Celsius at a time), the changes are usually very gradual and take place over many millennia.