| We no doubt have heard about global warming and | | | | causes has contributed to this situation. |
| how it is predicted to change the earth's atmosphere | | | | Another misconception is that the air is the only |
| by the end of this century. This century has just | | | | transporter of heat. Actually the air and the oceans |
| begun, we have 92 years left to go, and all of us | | | | transport heat around the world. The oceans store |
| reading this article will be gone by then. Of course we | | | | carbon dioxide, heat, freshwater and salt. Seaweed |
| want a better environment for the people yet to | | | | stores more heat than the atmosphere, but the |
| come. However the data suggests that abrupt | | | | general differences are that heat can travel faster in |
| climate change is more likely to occur. The changes in | | | | the air than in the waters that feed different areas |
| our global climate within the last ten years indicate | | | | of the globe. |
| that abrupt climate change has already occurred. It is | | | | The Atlantic Ocean has the ability to (the Atlantic |
| time to open up our eyes and do something about | | | | Heat Pump) transport more warm water to the Artic |
| global warming and climate change before it is too | | | | than the Pacific Ocean. Ocean currents have two |
| late. | | | | properties; they travel by wind and density. The |
| There are still some common myths and | | | | density is the amount of salt coupled with the |
| misunderstanding about abrupt climate change that | | | | ocean's water temperature, this density is known as |
| needs to be dispelled. Global temperatures have been | | | | thermohaline circulation and acts as an ocean |
| recorded since 1860, and although the average | | | | conveyor belt circulating cooler waters at its depth |
| temperature has risen by about .6 degrees Celsius | | | | going in one direction and warmer waters that are |
| over the entire century, the last eleven years have | | | | less dense traveling in the opposite direction. Changes |
| produced the hottest years recorded. Furthermore, | | | | in this system brought on by melting ice and the |
| six of those years were in fact the warmest and | | | | absorption of fresh water into the oceans will change |
| have been recorded since 1990. Those statistics | | | | the chemical compound of the oceans. This in turn will |
| alone increase the global warming rate by 1 full | | | | interfere with the natural Atlantic Heat Pump function |
| degree Celsius over the last century. | | | | leading to a possible abrupt climate change. It is felt |
| Although abrupt climate change is being played down | | | | that the cooler period known as the Little Age Ice in |
| by those who insist that it has occurred by natural | | | | Europe ending in 1850 was a result of the Atlantic |
| causes, and that in an of itself means that it is quite | | | | Heat Pump water density change. |
| normal to have these temperature variations across | | | | However, the major crisis at this time is not cooler |
| time, there is no doubt that man has played a part in | | | | weather but abrupt climate change as a result of |
| this acceleration by releasing carbon dioxide, | | | | warmer weather. Though the earth can be cooler in |
| methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons within | | | | some places as evidenced by the Atlantic heat pump |
| the atmosphere. What we do not know for sure is | | | | contributions, it is over all warming up at alarming |
| how much natural conditions, such as storm patterns | | | | speeds. We must become just as abrupt as the |
| like El Nino, volcanic ash, and changes in the Sun's | | | | climate changes to come up with fast solutions to |
| energy contributes to abrupt climate change, | | | | this world crisis. |
| anymore than we know how much anthropogenic | | | | |