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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1: Global Warming Affects Temperature

Air and water travels around the world in currents, one of the most famous being the Gulf Stream which keeps England relatively warm all year long. The currents help keep weather patterns and climate stable by moving warm water from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, and returning cold water from the northern hemisphere back to the southern hemisphere. Scientists refer to these currents as thermohaline circulation. According to researchers at the University of Illinois, global warming could stop these important processes.

The researchers claim that unless the governments of the world unite and do something about global warming, there is a 70% chance that the currents in the North Atlantic Ocean will shut down. Even if major steps are taken to reduce and stop global warming, there will still be a 25% chance that the currents will stop.

The circulation occurs because of the density of seawater, which is changed by the temperature of the water and how much salt is in the water. Warm water travels north from the southern hemisphere near the surface. Between Norway and Greenland, the water cools and sinks to the bottom of the ocean and flows back south.

How does global warming affect this process? As glaciers melt and the amount of rain and snow increases, the ocean water becomes less salty. If the water is less salty, it will not sink to the bottom of the ocean and return to the southern hemisphere.

If the currents do stop, researchers say that South America will become much warmer while most of Europe and the Eastern United States will become much colder.

--Written by Jodey Byers

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