Data from ice cores indicate increased CO2 levels around the time an ice age begins and the increased CO2 levels continues post ice age for many years. BTW, we're seeing an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels now as well as the world nearing the end of a 12K year warm period.
So what does this mean? One possibility might be periodic increases in volcanic activity every one hundred thousand years ( or thereabout ). This would cause increased atmospheric moisture from heating of the oceans along with increased sulfur dioxide and ash in the atmosphere blocking much of the sun’s energy from reaching the earth. Both effects would plunge the earth into an ice age.
Many scientists say that just an increase in atmospheric moisture is really all that’s needed to throw us into another ice age. As I mentioned above, increased volcanic activity would provide both blocking and the moisture for increased snow fall plus the increase in CO2 levels seen in ice core samples.
I’m not sure what would cause an increase in volcanic activity on a periodic basis. Maybe it has something to do with a thermal cycle in the earth’s interior or some kind of crustal shifting due to gyroscopic precession or worsening balance issue with the earth’s crust. A thermal increase and resulting melt of the inner core would help to explain the shifting magnetic field. Precession differences between the lithosphere and core could both release heat and increase earthquakes which would cause increased volcanic activity. Balance issues could even theoretically cause crustal shifts.
The Bible does mention that the sun stands still and even moves backwards. The only thing I can think of that would cause that would be the earth’s crust shifting. If that occurs, then it would explain much. The Bible also mentions the sun going dark and that could be from volcanic ash and smoke.
Second of my list of possible explanations would be a strong solar flare. One strong enough to burn the world’s forests would explain the CO2 and the smoke from that would block the sun’s energy from reaching the earth. The electric universe theory is also gaining ground. If it’s true, it would act much like a very strong solar flare.
Last on my list would be an increase in meteor strikes or some kind of rouge body causing gravitational issues. With God, it’s always more than one thing, that’s how you know a greater power is in control.
Do we live in interesting times or what? Funny how the prophets knew that knowledge would greatly increase at the end of this age!
My top pick is a solar storm beyond anything we have seen in recorded history in combination with a massive seismic and volcanic activity. Why? Because there is now direct evidence that solar storms cause earthquakes.
If you look at the Younger Dryas period just as we began to come out of the last ice you’ll see this sudden cooling around 12,900. Some are ascribing it to a comet or asteroid impact. After the dust settled the warming started again until peaked out 7,000+ years ago.
Ice ages are caused by the Earth’s orbit becoming more eccentric. The cause is unknown but it might be due to precession. Maybe the Sun causes a torque-induced precession. We’re due for the next ice age any time now.
We’re also due for another pole shift. The north pole is moving toward Siberia at a rate of about 35 to 40 miles per year which is up from 5 mpy 100 years ago.
You mentioned crustal shifting. Have you ever heard of the Expanding Earth Theory put forth by Neal Adams? Kind of remind of the Earth being like a geode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kL7qDeI05U