2006-12-13 08:38:27 · 5 answers · asked by DB 1 in Environment
simply. the ice caps melt. the water floods the world changing the overall temperature of the globe. then we freeze.
i'm not so much worried about freezing as much as i'm worried about people. survival instincts can be frightening.
it's a long process. it won't happen overnight. the scary part is that we might live to see it. and if not us, then prolly our grandkids.
2006-12-13 08:47:01 · answer #1 · answered by Decoy 2.0 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One theory of how a process of global warming could potentially lead to a new ice age has to do with the north Atlantic current.
The water in the oceans of the world is not simply sitting around in one giant stagnant puddle. The waters are constantly moving from place to place in a global cycle of currents. The process of this water moving distributes heat all over the globe.
Let me see if I can explain this correctly...
Water moving along at shallow depths (along the surface) is warmed by the sun as it passes through areas of the world near the equator such as the Indian sea, and the west coast of Africa. As it moves away from the equator, and things get less sunny and colder, the warm water releases its heat energy into the air, and sinks to the bottom. The temperature required for this heat exchange is based on ocean salinity (how salty it is). What currently happens is that warm water is carried along the surface, up the west coast of Africa, and into the north Atlantic right by the British Isles. The water loses its heat here in the north Atlantic, which is what give England its relatively comfortable climate despite its distance from the equator. The water cools, the air gets warm, and the water sinks to travel back down the coast of the USA to rejoin the cycle.
As the icecaps in the north melt (Greenland, the Arctic) the fresh water that was previously locked in ice is being dumped into the ocean. The concern is that the Salinity (saltiness) of the oceans will change enough that A. the north Atlantic current will do its temperature exchange at a much more southern spot, making western Europe much colder, and B. The entire system of ocean currents will get blocked up by this inability to switch warm surface water with the cold water from the depths.
If B were to happen, what you would see is the hot areas of the world getting even hotter (deserts spreading, people in water stressed regions not being able to survive), and Cold areas of the world being locked in ice. Hence, the new ice age.
Invest in skis.
Or canteens.
2006-12-13 17:05:39 · answer #2 · answered by joecool123_us 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First prove that there is global warming happening and, if so, that it's not a natural process of nature. Until then stop with the questions.
I could ask "How will we stop 200 foot tall cows from trampling Europe?" but I would first have to prove there are 200 ft cows and that Europe is indeed at risk of trampling. I don't care if Al Gore and Michael Moore unite to make an apocolyptic movie about these cows, it wouldn't make it true.
These kinds of questions conveniently overlook the fact that global warming hasn't even been proven to be true, yet it is worded in a way that would make you believe it has.
People, think for yourselves. Don't be so easily mislead..
2006-12-13 17:03:08 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Heat Meiser 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speaking of this topic, I watched a very interesting segment about this on the science cable channel. Basically, when the polar ice caps melt, fresh water icebergs melt into the salt water oceans and change the salinity, causing a major disruption to what is known as the oceanic conveyers. These conveyers drive the currents and keep warm water flowing into colder regions, regulating the air temperature and surrounding climate. When the conveyer is stopped or slowed down, a rapid cooling process starts because warm ocean water is not circulated, so the ambient air temperature starts to drop rapidly.
2006-12-13 16:45:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Global warming-->changement of climate-->many areas of the world will become deserts(it's a fact NOW, btw)-->many many people, much more than now will starve to death-->food reserves/energy reserves will be the first reason for future wars(well it's the same today)-->when the oil will finish ( i mean when no more cheap oil will be produced) the entire economy of the planet will collapse--> (I HOPE NOT!) big wars for taking the last reserves of oil and energy supplies-->(I REALLY HOPE NOT!) some madman will throw the first nuke-->nuclear war-->nuclear winter-->ice age
2006-12-13 16:52:27 · answer #5 · answered by scientific_boy3434 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋