‘Sudden stepwise instability is also a disturbing scenario to be borne
in mind when considering the effects that humans might have on the
climate system through adding greenhouse gases. Judging by what we see
from the past, conditions might gradually be building up to a ‘break
point’ at which a dramatic change in the climate system will occur
over just a decade or two, as a result of a seemingly innocuous
trigger.’
http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080528/the-climate-change-record-evidence-for-sudden-changes-in-climate/
There are links in this article to a couple of discussions at the
Quaternary Environments Network.
The Quaternary is characterised by sudden shifts to distinctly cooler
temperatures at 80 to 120 ky intervals. It may be a temperature limit
resulting in changes to the global heat engine and to resultant
changes in ocean circulation or clouds that trigger ice growth.
See also - http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10136#toc
Committee on Abrupt Climate Change, National Research Council.
(2002).Abrupt climate change : inevitable surprises. Washington, D.C.:
National Academy Press. ISBN 9780309074346.
Cooler seems more likely than warmer to me in the context of
Quaternary climate dynamics. Are we at the temperature limit for the
current interglacial?
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