Climate Change Is Freaking People Out Enough To Not Want Kids
Rising temperatures are one of the reasons.
LEARN MOREWhat Melting Arctic Ice Sheets Could Do To The World's Ocean Currents
As more freshwater flows into the Atlantic Ocean, it weakens the Gulf Stream, and that could be bad news for the global climate.
What Melting Arctic Ice Sheets Could Do To The World's Ocean Currents
NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio/C. Starr
February 8, 2017
Our planet's climate follows a "seesaw pattern" of warming and cooling. But a new study says that pattern is being disrupted.
In this system, freshwater from the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets flows into the Atlantic Ocean, cooling the water. The cooler water is more dense, and it sinks and flows south. Warm water from the Southern Hemisphere flows northward, creating the Gulf Stream current.
Researchers studied an ice core from the East Antarctic ice sheet that gave them 720,000 years of climate data. They found the Gulf Stream weakens as more freshwater flows into the Atlantic Ocean, which could have severe effects on the global climate.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a weakened Gulf Stream could influence rainfall patterns and temperatures over North America and Western Europe.
And while some researchers study a weakened Gulf Stream, others are trying to predict when it might collapse. In a 2016 study, researchers said it could happen in 300 years if carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere doubled. Other scientists agree a collapse might be here sooner than we think, especially as the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets shrink.
Scientists are working on better ways to measure ice sheet melt. NASA researchers built a map that shows what parts of the Greenland sheet are thawed. Knowing whether that ice rests on wet ground or dry, frozen bedrock is key to predicting how this ice will flow in the future — and how our planet will fare in the face of climate change.
4:55
Does climate change make you anxious? You're not alone
Extreme temperatures can impact physical health, but the changing climate is also taking a toll on mental health, especially for younger generations.
By AP2:39
Climate change making the homeless population even more vulnerable
Americans who experience homelessness often feel the impacts of extreme weather events first.
By Scripps News2:47
Climate change is already forcing communities to relocate
Environmental changes due to climate change are pushing residents out of their neighborhoods, though many are ignoring the signs.
By APTop Stories
3:44
Meet the musician teaching the banjo's African roots
As he performs across the country, Jake Blount is helping listeners learn how the banjo relates to Black American culture.
By Scripps News3:16
How authorities are combatting counterfeit Super Bowl gear
There's a spike in fake sports gear around the Super Bowl each year, and criminals are getting savvier and more sophisticated.
By AP3:45
This is how South Carolina is fixing the correctional officer shortage
A lack of correctional officers across the country is expected to worsen, but South Carolina is making changes to recruit and retain more workers.
By Scripps News