1. Fact or Fiction?
Global Climate Change
Ocean – Air Interaction

2. 1. What is an abrupt climate
change?
 Scientist believe if a certain temperature level is
reached, there may be an abrupt and large change in
the climate.

3. 2. Could an abrupt climate change
really happen?
 Yes, scientist believe change that occurs over decades,
rather than centuries.

4. 3. What is the difference between
“global warming” and “climate
change?”
 "Global warming" refers to the gradual increase of the
Earth's average surface temperature, due to a build-up of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. "Climate change" is a
broader term that refers to long-term changes in climate,
including average temperature and precipitation, as well as
changes in the seasonal or geographic variability of
temperature and precipitation.

5. 4. Should we worry about global
warming?
 Yes, Global temperatures have increased by 1°F over
the past 100 years.
 Although this may seem like a small change, it is
enough to harm important ecosystems, change rainfall
patterns and raise the sea level.
 Climate models project additional warming of about 2-
10° F over the next 100 years.

6. 5. Do scientists agree about global
warming?
 Although scientists still argue about how fast and how
much the atmosphere will warm, the mainstream
scientific community agrees on three key points: the
earth is warming; the warming is caused primarily by
the build-up of GHGs in the atmosphere; and that the
warming will continue if we don’t reduce GHG
emissions.

7. 6. What is the Atlantic
thermohaline circulation?
 The Atlantic thermohaline circulation, which includes the
Gulf Stream, acts like an oceanic conveyer belt that carries
heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic region.
 Warm surface water from the tropics travels northward by
the Gulf Stream.
 As the warm water cools in the North Atlantic, it sinks to
the ocean floor, and then slowly moves southward until it
returns once again to the tropics.
 This ocean circulation pattern is caused by differences in
water temperature and salinity in the ocean.

8. 7. What are the chances of the
thermohaline circulation shutting
down?
 We don’t yet know the probability of the thermohaline
circulation shutting down.
 It depends on how much and how quickly the
atmosphere warms.
 In general, it is considered possible but not very likely.
 If it were to occur, it would probably not happen
within the next 100 years, and circulation would
eventually recover, after decades or centuries.

9. 8. How can global warming cause
cold weather?
 Without the thermohaline circulation, not as much
heat would be transported from the tropics to the
North Atlantic region.

10. 9. If “The Day After Tomorrow” is
fiction, what is the truth about
global warming?
 The truth is that global warming is happening and that it is
already too late to avoid some of the effects.
 Even under the most optimistic circumstances,
atmospheric scientists expect global climate change to
result in increased flooding and droughts, more severe
storms, and a loss of plant and animal species.
 These events will occur, even if climate change is gradual.

11. 10. What can be done about
global climate change?
 Most experts believe that technology will provide the
solutions.
 Technologies that reduce emissions (energy efficiency,
hydrogen fuels, carbon storage, nuclear energy and
renewable energy) and technologies that remove
carbon from the atmosphere may all play a role.
 Government policies that encourage businesses to
develop and use these and other technologies are also
very important.