Science & technology | Termination shock?

Do rising methane levels herald a climate feedback loop?

A scientist notes ominous similarities to the ends of previous ice ages

A pair of Toco Toucans flying across the Piquiri River, northern Pantanal.
Photograph: Nature Picture Library

The end of an ice age is a fearsome and complex thing. Ice sheets collapse; ocean currents shift; weather patterns are thrown awry; low-lying land is inundated. Each change triggers more change, mostly in a way that makes the world warmer still.

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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Termination shock?”

From the December 2nd 2023 edition

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