Transcript Chapter 14

Climate Projections and Surprises
Current Weather
Abrupt Climate Changes
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Other Examples
Day After Tomorrow
Exam 4 on May 1! Final Exam on May 8.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ca
pital-weathergang/wp/2015/04/23/dynamite-timelapseviews-of-chiles-erupting-calbuco-volcano/
Abrupt Climate Changes
Theory, models, and paleoclimatic
reconstructions have shown that changes in the
climate system can be abrupt and widespread.
Abrupt climate change: “. . . occurs when the
climate system is forced to cross some threshold,
triggering a transition to a new state . . .” (Alley et
al. 2002)
“Climate surprises” often used to refer to these
abrupt transitions
Responses of a Climate Variable to Forcing
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Best-documented type of abrupt climate change
in paleoclimatic archives is associated with
changes in oceanic circulation, especially in the
North Atlantic
Also referred to as “Thermohaline Circulation”.
Colder, Saltier Water Sinks in North Atlantic,
driving the Thermohaline Circulation
http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=83339
&tid=3622&cid=10046
Abrupt Climate Change Site from Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institute
http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/abrupt-climate-change