A new study suggests that an abrupt climate change occurred when there were small fluctuations in the sizes of ice sheets during the last Ice Age.

To reach this finding, researchers compared simulated model data retrieved from ice cores and marine sediments.

Their goal was to find out why temperature jumps of up to ten degrees occurred in northern latitudes within just a few decades of the last Ice Age.

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Their findings showed that thicker ice sheets can increase ocean circulation and transfer more heat to the north because of redirection of prevailing winds.

Researchers explained that as the north gets warmer the glaciers retreated and the winds became normal.

The north also becomes cooler again, they added.

Conor Purcell from Cardiff University said that simulations performed on their model demonstrated that climate systems respond to small changes resulting in climate swings.

He also explained that abrupt climates shifts and temperature changes doesn't necessarily mean there was an acceleration of the polar ice cap meltdown.

According to Gerrit Lohamann, one of the researchers, the Earth is in stable phase in terms of its History.

He explained the preconditions that gave rise to the rapid temperature changes during the last Ice Age don't exist today.

Researchers believe the amount ice currently found in the Artic region is lesser compared to the last glacial period.

The Laurentide Ice Sheet that was the major driving force for ocean circulation during the glacial era has also disappeared.

Luckily, the climate change that occurred during the last Ice Age could not be found in today's condition but sudden climate changes cannot be excluded in the future.