Global warming and global freezeover? I have heard plenty about global warming and rising sea levels because of the melting glaciers. I also heard something briefly about a freezeover, all across the world on national geographic (and that it has happened at some point in the earths history). I did not get a chance to see how this would be, so I%26#039;m wondering how we can be worried about both, even though they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Are they at all related? If not, how can we be worried about both at the same time.

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The global %26quot;freezeover%26quot; you are speaking of is most likely not actually a GLOBAL freezeover. It is a freezeover of North America and Europe (believed by many to be all there is on this planet, hence the %26quot;global freezeover%26quot; terminology). Global warming will cause icecaps/glaciers to melt. If the glaciers covering Greenland and the North Atlantic melt and dump excessive amounts of freshwater into the North Atlantic Ocean, this could cause a disruption in the ocean conveyor belt in the Atlantic. The freshwater would push the reach of the Gulf Stream (warm waters coming up from the Caribbean that are responsible for Europe%26#039;s warmth) farther south, thus creating a very cold environment for much of Europe and North America.

An example of this can be found in somewhat recent (geologically speaking) history. There was an event called the Younger Dryas Period about 12000 years ago where this happened. That is how you can have global warming causing the threat of a %26quot;freezeover%26quot;. It is possible that if this freezeover occurred it could lead to more cooling globally. The planet has positive feedback mechanisms which cause periods of freezing to lead to more freezing (ex. increases in ice coverage reflect more of the sun%26#039;s energy - causing further cooling), and conversely periods of warming to lead to more warming (ex. ice melts and the sun%26#039;s energy is absorbed rather than reflected).

Hope that helped! 60% 3 Votes

Other Answers (6)

• 1417 on that mini ice age 70 year span brought about the black plague also. Research sun spots
  
  The freeze over you speak of would be the result of a massive meteor strike and the years to follow or from a super eruption on the scale of Yellowstone blowing it top. The resulting dust in the upper atmosphere would block out the sun to an extent that most life on the plant would die from cold or lack of food. 0% 0 Votes
• Whether you believe in it or not, it is Propoganda, it hasn%26#039;t officially been confirmed. That%26#039;s why any network can take info and twist it to fit it to their likes.
  
  
  Personally, I think both of those channels are liberally influenced and I don%26#039;t believe it%26#039;s a problem. Everything is messed up. 0% 0 Votes
• if ice cap melts then oceans quit circulating %26amp; that would cause freezing ( short version here) for many different reasons and in many different ways %26amp; extremes earth has been subjected to warming and freezing trends - there was even a %26quot;mini iceage%26quot; (at least thats what they call it) in human history which occured i think around 1000 years ago 20% 1 Vote
• theres this thing in the ocean called the north atlantic current and if (for instance) greenland melted all this fresh water would disrupt the current and heat wouldnt be distributed and the northern hemisphere would melt.
  
  basically... 0% 0 Votes
• national geographic predicting the future of doom and gloom. Thats Hollywood for you 0% 0 Votes
• No, we need not worry.
  
  * 20% 1 Vote