Was earth ever frozen over totally?

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Profile Bob DeWoody
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Message 1380729 - Posted: 13 Jun 2013, 16:37:25 UTC

A few years ago I saw on TV that some scientists had a theory that at least once and maybe twice in the far past earth has gotten so cold that it was completely encased in ice like some of the moons around the outer planets. I am now seeing that the theory is being treated as established fact but without any explanation of the irrefutable evidence that has moved the theory's status to that of being proved. So, what is the new evidence that this event happened?
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Message 1380812 - Posted: 13 Jun 2013, 19:12:57 UTC - in response to Message 1380729.  

I don't know what 'new' evidence there might be but a "snowball Earth" is a known stable state for our climate and you can crash into that on occasion with the climate simulations for ClimatePrediction.net


Naturally increasing CO2 is important for 'turbo-boosting' us out of such cold conditions. Note that that is not to be confused with the very un-natural increasing CO2 that we are forcing today with our global industrialization.


Keep searchin',
Martin

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Message 1381170 - Posted: 14 Jun 2013, 18:03:50 UTC - in response to Message 1380729.  
Last modified: 14 Jun 2013, 18:04:45 UTC

A few years ago I saw on TV that some scientists had a theory that at least once and maybe twice in the far past earth has gotten so cold that it was completely encased in ice like some of the moons around the outer planets. I am now seeing that the theory is being treated as established fact but without any explanation of the irrefutable evidence that has moved the theory's status to that of being proved. So, what is the new evidence that this event happened?

Good point Bob...I know the last biggie reached as far as Africa and reduced
the world population down to about half a million, but I suspect this latter
part, population reduction, was pure speculation as it could not be proved.
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belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.
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Message 1381268 - Posted: 14 Jun 2013, 21:36:14 UTC - in response to Message 1380812.  

I don't know what 'new' evidence there might be but a "snowball Earth" is a known stable state for our climate and you can crash into that on occasion with the climate simulations for ClimatePrediction.net


Naturally increasing CO2 is important for 'turbo-boosting' us out of such cold conditions. Note that that is not to be confused with the very un-natural increasing CO2 that we are forcing today with our global industrialization.


Keep searchin',
Martin

I'm sorry but I don't regard computer simulations as proof of such a significant event. There is no way at this time that programmers could factor in every possible component of global weather and I also have a feeling that supporters of such theories tend to only use data that supports the theory they are trying to simulate.
Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.
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Message 1381285 - Posted: 14 Jun 2013, 22:08:21 UTC
Last modified: 14 Jun 2013, 22:12:42 UTC

Except for Seti@home, I would very much love to run some climate prediction models on my computer despite sometimes very long running times.

But it depends on whether I am able to receive (read download) these models when they are available.

I only get one attempt at downloading such a task. If it does not work out, it is sent to someone else instead.

Apparently because of this download problem it did not work a couple of times.

Bonkers!
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Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1381342 - Posted: 15 Jun 2013, 0:37:14 UTC - in response to Message 1381268.  

I also have a feeling that supporters of such theories tend to only use data that supports the theory they are trying to simulate.

Change that to support their paycheck. +1

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Message 1381348 - Posted: 15 Jun 2013, 0:46:45 UTC

Bob -- You might want to read, "Snowball Earth", by Gabriella Walker,
if you haven't already done so. A good read, although not recent.


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Message 1381352 - Posted: 15 Jun 2013, 1:02:19 UTC - in response to Message 1381342.  

Gary your cynicism is showing. I tend to be more open minded, occasionally I learn new things.
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Message 1381378 - Posted: 15 Jun 2013, 2:37:07 UTC - in response to Message 1381352.  

Gary your cynicism is showing. I tend to be more open minded, occasionally I learn new things.

I just remember the Soviet system of scientific publishing. All peer reviewed.

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Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Was earth ever frozen over totally?


 
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