Global Warming and Ice Ages

   The earth’s climate naturally fluctuates according to several factors including the nature of the sun and weather conditions. Additionally, the temperature of large parts of Europe and North America is dependent upon the Gulf Stream to prevent the onset of an Ice Age (Source 3). Originating in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Stream taps the warm water flow of the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt, (a worldwide current) and carries the warm water and accompanying winds past northeastern America and Europe. Without this movement of water, these regions would be uninhabitable .

   However, global warming has begun to melt the Arctic Ice. Accordingly, large amounts of nearly freezing fresh water is being flushed down into the northern Atlantic and disrupting the Gulf Stream. The fear becomes that if enough of the water flows into the Gulf Stream, it could shut down. Within about 1 to 3 years, major impacts on the Northern Hemisphere’s temperatures would ensue. Results could range anywhere from a little Ice Age causing colder winter, droughts, crop failures, and desertification, to a full Ice Age. Consequently, when summers ended in the north, there would be no rain around the equator causing not only Ice in the north but drought, wind, and firestorms in warmer climates. The resulting glacial period could last anywhere from 700 to 100 thousand years (Source 7).