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Climate Projections and Surprises

Climate Projections and Surprises. Current Weather Abrupt Climate Changes Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Other Examples Day After Tomorrow Exam 4 on Friday! Final Exam on May 7. For Next Class: Read Ch. 14. Abrupt Climate Changes.

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Climate Projections and Surprises

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  1. Climate Projections and Surprises • Current Weather • Abrupt Climate Changes • Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation • Other Examples • Day After Tomorrow Exam 4 on Friday! Final Exam on May 7. For Next Class: Read Ch. 14

  2. 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

  3. Responses of a Climate Variable to Forcing

  4. 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”.

  5. Colder, Saltier Water Sinks in North Atlantic, driving the Thermohaline Circulation

  6. http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=83339&tid=3622&cid=10046

  7. Abrupt Climate Change Site from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute • http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/abrupt-climate-change

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