[SolidSupplySide]

Past studies of gases trapped in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores have suggested that Earth's temperature can sometimes change amazingly fast, warming as much as 15 degrees in some regions within a couple of decades.

Yet this is evidence that the imperceptible change we have seen over the past few decades is the result of human activity. How is that?

[cogitator]

Yet this is evidence that the imperceptible change we have seen over the past few decades is the result of human activity. How is that?

Climate scientists are still working on more accurately characterizing how atmospheric composition changes affect global temperature during a warm interglacial period (i.e., now). Abrupt changes such the 15 degree change cited weren't caused solely by changes in atmospheric trace gases (but might be related to slower changes pushing the climate to a so-called "tipping point" where an abrupt change happens).