Real Life Ice Age Coming in 2030, Scientists Say

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Nowadays, a lot of movies are depicting how the end of the world will look like, from alien invasion to meteors crashing into the planet and a devastating zombie apocalypse. However, scientists believe that there may be truth in what some movies' portrayals, as they predict that the world will soon be experiencing an ice age, 15 years from now. 

The Telegraph UK reports that according to a group of researchers from the University of Northumbria, solar activity will change, making way to a dramatic fall in the temperature which may yield to an ice storm.

Professor Valentina Zharkova said the solar activity will be 60 percent less, thus, cancelling the two fluid movements within the sun. She explained that a similar phenomenon has occurred in the late 17th century, often known as the "Maunder Minimum," where Europe and North America have experienced very cold winters between the years 1645 and 1715. During this ice age, the Thames River became frozen for over seven weeks. 

AOL adds that solar cycles usually last for 11 years, in which the north and south poles will flip. The Earth is currently at Cycle 24. In the latest model created by the researchers, it has predicted that the sun’s magnetic waves will be off course when it reaches Cycle 25 in the year 2022. This will cause the phenomena of an ice storm and extremely cool winter.

AU News writes that the findings have been presented at the National Astronomy Meeting in Wales and has been published in the Royal Astronomical Society Papers. Incidentally, after the news of the mini ice age have been reported, Australia has experienced a tropical-style thunderstorm with heavy snowfalls. It has been aptly called a "thundersnow" by the media.

Global warming and climate change have always been a worldwide concern ever since the thinning of the ozone layer has been reported. With the impending ice age, how prepared is the human race in battling such cold and how can this affect public health?

New York Times writes that although the US Government feels it should be taken as a public threat, most scientists believe otherwise. Even though evidences point out that warmer weather can have an effect on one's health, they believe it is only a part of a complicated set of forces that may or may not influence health. But, they said, it could make several changes on how people perceive the importance of being good stewards of nature.