Climate state
![Ice core data of Glacial and Interglacial periods during the Quaternary.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Co2_glacial_cycles_800k3449.png")
![](/Images/godic/202501/05/All_palaeotemps3449.png")
Climate state describes a state of climate on Earth and similar terrestrial planets based on a thermal energy budget, such as the greenhouse or icehouse climate state.
The main climate state change is between periodical glacial and interglacial cycles in Earth history, studied from climate proxies. The climate system is responding to the current climate forcing and adjusts following climate sensitivity to reach a climate equilibrium, Earth's energy balance. Model simulations suggest that the current interglacial climate state will continue for at least another 100,000 years, due to CO2 emissions - including complete deglaciation of the Northern Hemisphere.