The climate does change

I was astounded to hear that some folks are “climate change deniers.” Well, as a government-trained weatherman, I can assure everyone that the climate does change. History shows that it was a bit cooler long ago. This is evident in New York City’s Central Park.  The park is dotted with huge outcroppings of bedrock, which clearly shows deep groves and striations caused by a 1,000-plus-foot-thick glacier as it scoured Manhattan during the last ice age.

Our climate constantly changes. In fact, it is commonly accepted that about every 100,000 to 120,000 years the Earth plunges into an ice age. In between those ice ages are the inter-glacial warm periods — and they only last 10,000 to 20,000 years. We are now in one of those inter-glacial warm periods. Today’s warming period started about 15,000 years ago — which has allowed the rise of human civilization.      

Some scientists say we are overdue for the next ice age, while others say it’s just a matter of a few more thousand years. Either way, enjoy global warming while it lasts, because the alternative is quite chilling. Just be glad we live in Florida. And don’t throw away that snow shovel because scientists still don’t know why ice ages come and go.   

John Shewchuk is a resident of the Village of Calumet Grove.