Interglacials, Milankovitch Cycles, and Carbon Dioxide

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current theories on interglacial periods, focusing on the roles of Milankovitch cycles and atmospheric CO2, and discusses recent challenges to these established ideas.

Contribution

It critically examines the fundamental assumptions about interglacial initiation and the dominant factors controlling global temperature during these periods.

Findings

Challenges the traditional view of CO2 as the primary driver of interglacial periods

Questions the primacy of Milankovitch cycles in initiating interglacials

Highlights recent research questioning established climate models

Abstract

The existing understanding of interglacial periods is that they are initiated by Milankovitch cycles enhanced by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. During interglacials, global temperature is also believed to be primarily controlled by carbon dioxide concentrations, modulated by internal processes such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation. Recent work challenges the fundamental basis of these conceptions.