Mike Hirn asked:


An Ice Age brought on by global warming was the scenario depicted in the movie THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. While the science on which the movie based has been called into question, there may be some merit in the theory that global warming could cause an Ice Age.

Why is Europe’s climate comparitively milder than other places at the same latitude? Alaska and Greenland, both the same distance to the North Pole as Europe, are covered with ice and permafrost while most of Europe is not.

The ocean currents called the Gulf Stream bring warm waters up to Europe from the Caribbean. This water brings warmth to the countries in its path. Cooler water from Europe feeds back into the loop and causes the water to flow back to the Caribbean in a continuous cycle.
The Gulf Stream has been significantly weakened in every major cooling event, including the last great Ice Age. In the past this weakening has been brought on by natural events. In current times, global warming brought on by human activities could be the cause of slowing or even stopping the Gulf Stream. If this were to happen, the cold waters would stay in the area of Europe and the Northeastern US and could mean an Ice Age for those regions.

If an Ice Age occurs, it will likely be due to the melting of polar ice. This will dump large quantities of cold, fresh water into the ocean. It would disrupt the Gulf Stream and cause the cooling of many areas that now have milder climates. The return flow of cold water from Greenland, which goes back to the Caribbean, has already showed a weakening over the last 50 years. There has been a twenty percent decline in the amount of current flowing in this direction. It stands to reason that the warm waters returning from the Caribbean have also decreased in volume. The change would not be gradual. This is a phenomenon that takes place rather quickly. Perhaps it does not happen as fast as depicted in THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. However, it could happen within a few short years.

A slowing or stoppage of the Gulf Stream would affect the entire earth. Observations have been made of current data and historical information gleaned by studying the ocean and the lands around it. With all the information at hand, it appears that it is indeed possible that global warming could bring about a modern Ice Age.

Enviro Saver asked:

What is global warming? Global warming is when the temperature of the planet starts to rise causing the icecaps to melt, resulting in the ocean levels rising. You might be wondering how this can affect the average person. Global warming might be seen by many as something that does not need to be overly concerned about. In truth, it really is something that people should be concerned about. With the temperature of earth rising, the icecaps melt and the stores of fresh water mix with the salt water. If there is one thing the human population does not want to be short of, it is fresh water.

Global warming is what contributes to the growth of deserts as more moisture evaporates into the air from the heat. In many places drought is becoming a major problem and this can lead to poor crop yield and an increase in the chance of having fires. Extreme flooding is also believed to be contributed to by global warming as the weather patterns change. As the temperature becomes warmer, it disrupts regular storm patterns and can lead to worse storms that lead to more tornados, hurricanes and floods.

What ways can you stop global warming? Whether you are a business or an individual, you can become someone who does not contribute to the problem. Here are some tips:

•Replace all incandescent light bulbs with florescent lights that use less electricity.

•Try to minimize the number of times the furnace turns on, maybe even turn it down a bit.

•Use appliances that are energy efficient; they don’t use as much electricity as the common ones.

•Don’t leave things on standby. When finished with a machine turn it off.

•Turn off lights when the room is not in use.

•Replace single pane windows with double pane.

While many of these suggestions are often associated with homes, they can also be used by businesses who wish to help stop global warming. These are only a few of the many things a person or business can do. To find out more ways you can be more environmentally friendly, you can go onto the internet, find books in libraries or stores, or you can even bring in a professional who can help you find ways to be a part of the solution. At first, it might seem like it is very expensive, and it is at first, but you help stop global warming and over time it can actually help to save yourself, or your business money.