| An Ice Age brought on by global warming was | | | | Age for those regions. |
| the scenario depicted in the movie THE DAY | | | | If an Ice Age occurs, it will likely be due to the |
| AFTER TOMORROW. While the science on which | | | | melting of polar ice. This will dump large quantities |
| the movie based has been called into question, | | | | of cold, fresh water into the ocean. It would |
| there may be some merit in the theory that | | | | disrupt the Gulf Stream and cause the cooling of |
| global warming could cause an Ice Age. | | | | many areas that now have milder climates. The |
| Why is Europe's climate comparitively milder than | | | | return flow of cold water from Greenland, which |
| other places at the same latitude? Alaska and | | | | goes back to the Caribbean, has already showed |
| Greenland, both the same distance to the North | | | | a weakening over the last 50 years. There has |
| Pole as Europe, are covered with ice and | | | | been a twenty percent decline in the amount of |
| permafrost while most of Europe is not. | | | | current flowing in this direction. It stands to |
| The ocean currents called the Gulf Stream bring | | | | reason that the warm waters returning from the |
| warm waters up to Europe from the Caribbean. | | | | Caribbean have also decreased in volume. The |
| This water brings warmth to the countries in its | | | | change would not be gradual. This is a |
| path. Cooler water from Europe feeds back into | | | | phenomenon that takes place rather quickly. |
| the loop and causes the water to flow back to | | | | Perhaps it does not happen as fast as depicted in |
| the Caribbean in a continuous cycle. | | | | THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. However, it could |
| The Gulf Stream has been significantly weakened | | | | happen within a few short years. |
| in every major cooling event, including the last | | | | A slowing or stoppage of the Gulf Stream would |
| great Ice Age. In the past this weakening has | | | | affect the entire earth. Observations have been |
| been brought on by natural events. In current | | | | made of current data and historical information |
| times, global warming brought on by human | | | | gleaned by studying the ocean and the lands |
| activities could be the cause of slowing or even | | | | around it. With all the information at hand, it |
| stopping the Gulf Stream. If this were to happen, | | | | appears that it is indeed possible that global |
| the cold waters would stay in the area of Europe | | | | warming could bring about a modern Ice Age. |
| and the Northeastern US and could mean an Ice | | | | |