| An Ice Age brought on by global warming was the | | | | mean an Ice Age for those regions. |
| scenario depicted in the movie THE DAY AFTER | | | | If an Ice Age occurs, it will likely be due to the |
| TOMORROW. While the science on which the movie | | | | melting of polar ice. This will dump large quantities of |
| based has been called into question, there may be | | | | cold, fresh water into the ocean. It would disrupt the |
| some merit in the theory that global warming could | | | | Gulf Stream and cause the cooling of many areas |
| cause an Ice Age. | | | | that now have milder climates. The return flow of |
| Why is Europe's climate comparitively milder than | | | | cold water from Greenland, which goes back to the |
| other places at the same latitude? Alaska and | | | | Caribbean, has already showed a weakening over the |
| Greenland, both the same distance to the North Pole | | | | last 50 years. There has been a twenty percent |
| as Europe, are covered with ice and permafrost while | | | | decline in the amount of current flowing in this |
| most of Europe is not. | | | | direction. It stands to reason that the warm waters |
| The ocean currents called the Gulf Stream bring | | | | returning from the Caribbean have also decreased in |
| warm waters up to Europe from the Caribbean. This | | | | volume. The change would not be gradual. This is a |
| water brings warmth to the countries in its path. | | | | phenomenon that takes place rather quickly. Perhaps |
| Cooler water from Europe feeds back into the loop | | | | it does not happen as fast as depicted in THE DAY |
| and causes the water to flow back to the Caribbean | | | | AFTER TOMORROW. However, it could happen |
| in a continuous cycle. | | | | within a few short years. |
| The Gulf Stream has been significantly weakened in | | | | A slowing or stoppage of the Gulf Stream would |
| every major cooling event, including the last great Ice | | | | affect the entire earth. Observations have been |
| Age. In the past this weakening has been brought on | | | | made of current data and historical information |
| by natural events. In current times, global warming | | | | gleaned by studying the ocean and the lands around |
| brought on by human activities could be the cause of | | | | it. With all the information at hand, it appears that it is |
| slowing or even stopping the Gulf Stream. If this | | | | indeed possible that global warming could bring about |
| were to happen, the cold waters would stay in the | | | | a modern Ice Age. |
| area of Europe and the Northeastern US and could | | | | |