Resumo

THIELEN, Dirk R  e  LAIRET CENTENO, Rafael. Gradual vs. Abrupt: the need to better define the climate change paradigm and those of the natural and social processes. INCI [online]. 2007, vol.32, n.3, pp.167-174. ISSN 0378-1844.

Mankind has a historical perception of climatic stability. However, the evidence demonstrates a different reality. The gathered information shows that abrupt changes have occurred and have modeled not only natural processes but also its own history. An abrupt climatic change induces adaptive difficulties in all systems. In recent years, studies illustrate possible effects on world climatic conditions derived from alterations on the North Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation. This paper discusses recent studies highlighting the most important aspects to the scientific community, so as to allow a new perception about the climatic change paradigm and its effects on the perception of a global climatic change.

Palavras-chave : Cambio Climático Abrupto; Cambio de Paradigma; Circulación Termohalina.