What caused climate change during the ice age?

What caused climate change during the ice age?

Although climate scientists have worked hard to determine the ultimate trigger of abrupt climate change during the last ice age, it is likely that a combination of ocean and atmospheric circulation changes were involved.

How might warming contribute to the slowing of thermohaline circulation?

Global warming can affect this by warming surface waters and melting ice that adds fresh water to the circulation, making the waters less saline; this freshening of the water can prevent the cold waters from sinking and thus alter ocean currents.

How is global warming affecting ocean currents?

Then, the warm surface water moves closer to the poles where it cools and sinks. As Earth’s climate warms, the water also warms melting sea ice. This warming could make the water less cold and less likely to sink. Without sinking cold water, the ocean currents could slow down or stop in some places.

How does global warming affect the Gulf Stream?

Climate change impacting Gulf Stream change Among the factors affecting the current are the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, melting of Arctic sea ice, and an overall enhanced precipitation and river runoff.

How does CO2 affect climate?

It absorbs less heat per molecule than the greenhouse gases methane or nitrous oxide, but it’s more abundant, and it stays in the atmosphere much longer. Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are responsible for about two-thirds of the total energy imbalance that is causing Earth’s temperature to rise.

How does global warming cause changes in ecosystems?

Changing climate affects ecosystems in a variety of ways. For instance, warming may force species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher elevations where temperatures are more conducive to their survival. For instance, climate change may exacerbate the stress that land development places on fragile coastal areas.

How does thermohaline circulation affect global temperature?

The currents flowing through the ocean, a process called thermohaline circulation, can have an impact on climate. Cold winds blowing over the oceans chill the waters beneath them. These winds also increase evaporation rates, further removing heat from the water.

What would happen if carbon dioxide increased in the atmosphere?

The increased percentage of carbon-dioxide will cause the greenhouse effect, i.e. it will not allow the hot rays of the sun to escape from the atmosphere after reflection once they enter the earth’s atmosphere, thereby increasing the temperature of the earth, ice on mountains will melt and the water level will rise.

How does carbon dioxide affect the oceans?

As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises, the oceans absorb a lot of it. In the ocean, carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid. This causes the acidity of seawater to increase.

How does the Gulf Stream affect the climate of northern Europe?

Since the Gulf Stream also extends toward Europe, it warms western European countries as well. In fact, England is about the same distance from the equator as cold regions of Canada, yet England enjoys a much warmer climate. If it weren’t for the warm water of the Gulf Stream, England would have a much colder climate.

What would happen without the Gulf Stream?

It would disrupt monsoon seasons and rains in places like India, South America and West Africa, affecting crop production and creating food shortages for billions of people. The decline of the Amazonian rainforest and the Antarctic ice sheets would also be put into fast forward.