One common debate point against those who want to point out flaws in global warming is that there are many scientists who speak of a coming ice age. This is true, however, what those debaters do not understand is that global warming and a coming ice age are not mutually exclusive items as the words “warming” and “ice” might suggest. It all boils down to a matter of location and perspective. Disclaimer: Please note that this article is NOT an argument for or against global warming politics. It is merely meant to show how the science behind a global warming phenomenon could lead to global cooling in other regions. Let me explain:

First, one has to understand the underlying worry of global warming. This primary concern is that the world is slowly growing warmer. This is not necessarily true on a daily basis, but measurements taken year over year and decade over decade compared to the past would indicate this is occurring. As such, it is increasing the melting rate for glaciers and the polar ice caps. Okay, simple enough. How does this lead to the next ice age?

This stems from weather patterns and the Gulf Stream. To understand how weather patterns work, consider the weather in Europe. Central Europe is on the same latitude as Canada and Siberia. However, its average temperature is more similar to that of the United States. How can this be? This is because the Gulf Streams moves vertically as well horizontally (it path resembles that of a wave). Most people are also aware that the Atlantic is considered a warm ocean while the Pacific is considered a cold one. This is because an undersea river travels between the two oceans carrying away Arctic temperatures from the Atlantic into the Pacific. In conjunction, the Gulf Stream moves across the warm Atlantic into Central Europe, leading to temperatures in this region being warmer than they would be otherwise.

However, melted polar ice caps threaten these loops. The underwater river that feeds the Gulf Stream could cease to exist and no longer provide certain regions with the weather that it does. Melted glacial regions could stop these patterns altogether. If the Gulf Stream were to shift or stop altogether, Europe and southern Canada would lose the influx of warm air to their current climates and delve into a second ice age. Other areas, like the southern United States would experience warmer climates and become much more arid, possibly even desert like. So when asked whether global warming would lead to the Earth become warmer or cooler, the answer is…YES.

This is why those who proclaim the danger of global warming are latching on to the wrong term. It should be phrased as the more encompassing “climate change.” It is more accurate and less likely to gain criticism based solely on semantics. Then, the public can focus on debating the actual science instead of just latching onto political labels. …Okay, I am not so na