1. Climate Surprises Current Weather and News Abrupt Climate Changes
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Other Examples
For Next Class: Read Wikipedia on Day After Tomorrow

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”.

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

9. Abrupt Climate Change Site from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute