目前寒流席卷全球，世界多个国家和地区被漫天风雪所包围。据英国《每日邮报》1月10日报道，日前多位权威气候学家表示，连日来的异常气候很可能只是全球气候变冷的开端而已，在接下来的20至30年间，地球将经历一个“微型冰河世纪”。

报道称，美国国家冰雪数据中心的数据显示，2007年以来，北极圈夏季海洋冰层增加了49.7万平方英里，升幅为26%，这意味着海洋正变得越来越冷。

科学家的研究显示，海水循环造成的融冰现象是由于海洋处在“暖化模式”(warm mode)当中，而当海洋处于“冷化模式”(cold mode)当中时，全球气候就会变冷，海洋有自己的冷暖周期。

Is the earth in a miniature Ice Age?

Severe cold in northern hemisphere has revived arguments about climate change. In contrast to the global warming theory, some experts say the warming process has stopped, and the climate is actually becoming cooler. Some experts believe globe oceans experiencing a miniature Ice Age. They even think the cold weather could last for two or three decades.

Scientists draw their conclusions from water temperature data in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They say the data casts doubt on global warming theories, taking issue with beliefs such as there may be no ice within the Arctic Circle by the summer of 2013.

Data from US ice and snow studies show that since 2007, the amount of ice in the Arctic during summer increases by over 1 million square kilometers, about 26 percent of the original amount.

Some computer climate simulations show that global warming since 1900 was caused by human activities, with temperatures rising as more carbon dioxide is discharged. However, climate cooling theories throw over the previous speculation. Some scientists believe that the cause of the warming is that the oceans are in their warm period, and not from a warmer atmosphere.

Famous climate researcher Mojib Latif from Germany says, the oceans have their own warming and cooling cycles every 20 to 30 years. That's why the cold around the world this winter is within estimates. Latif also says, temperatures in summer may also be lower. He concludes the earth is in a miniature Ice Age, and the cool trend could last 2 to 3 decades.