Draft 2: Milankovitch Cycles

This topic submitted by Jesse Murphy, Rob Greene ( greenerr@muohio.edu, murphyj4@muohio.edu ) on 4/2/04 .

Global Climate Change -Western Program-Miami University

The Milankovitch Cycles

Ocean Circulation

The Ocean Conveyor is responsible for carrying warm and cool water currents which in turn play an important role in how our weather works.

(source)

As fresh water is melted from glaciers is changes the path of the ocean conveyor. Brining about more severe weather for costal regions in the northern hemisphere.

Purpose and Problem

1. Are the Milankovitch cycles and theories surrounding them a valid model and method for prediction of future climate change events?

2. Because of the huge spans of time involved in the different Milankovitch Cycles (thousands of years) is there a reliable method of colaberating Milankovitch's theories?

3. Are the Milankovitch Cycles the only major influences over the earths climate? Are there other effects that work in conjunction or are influenced by the Milankovitch Cycles?

4. Do the Milankovitch Theories only lend themselves to predicting large scale climate change events such as Ice Ages?

To view the entire proposal, click here: The Milankovitch Cycles

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