I recently visited the column of Shub Tnediserp Remrof to read an article he posted asking the question What is causing Climate Change? (Poll). In the discussion on the thread for that article 1+2=potatoe posed the following question (#3.5);

Feel free to enlighten me on how global warming is the cause for the unprecedented cold weather in Europe this past winter.

This is my response;

The global warming trend is causing more water to evaporate into the atmosphere, which in turn generates more precipitation. In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere that precipitation comes in the form of snow. Snow reflects most of the suns rays which causes colder temperatures.

Also, the rapid melting of the polar cap glaciers, the land glaciers and ice fields, plus the snow caps of the high peaks is causing copious amounts of fresh water to run into the oceans, changing the salinity levels, which it turn is having serious effects on the oceans currents.

Among the most important of those currents is the Gulf Stream that flows from the Gulf of Mexico northward along the west coast of Europe to the Northern Hemisphere, where it cools and flows back to the Gulf. That warm water is what gives the Northern Hemisphere the moderate temperatures we need and enjoy.

As a result of the salinity change I mentioned, the "pumping action" of the Gulf Stream is slowing down, bringing less warm water to the N. Hemisphere, thus causing colder temperatures.

You see 1+2, it's not as simple as 1+2=, it's a complicated series of integrated events that is causing the weather chaos we are experiencing. Floods in some places, drought in other places, extreme cold in the north, extreme heat in the south, more hurricanes, stronger hurricanes, more frequent and powerful tornadoes, earthquakes, ..... everything is being effected.

Some experts are saying, the now smaller polar caps weigh much less than they did before and the pressure change from that weight shift is causing the earths crust to move, causing the more frequent and more severe earthquakes the world has suffered in recent years.

Take my advice in #1.4 . Go to the links I provide, do some research. This GW and Climate Change thing is no bullshit, it's a serious problem and we need to start preparing for the inevitable.

Man may not be causing all this chaos, but we are certainly contributing to it, and we damn well are going to be affected by it.

And don't forget;

"....For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being oblig'd by better Information or fuller consideration, to change Opinions even on important matters, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.
[Benjamin Franklin]

There is nothing wrong with changing your position on things you believe, everybody has to do it from time to time.

That's it. .... What is your position on Climate Change?