The "ocean conveyor" is probably the most important determining factor 
for the weather and climate in any one particular place. It can shift in 
both short (e.g. El Nino) and long terms (e.g. "Gulf Stream" 
subduction). However, being a great mixing bowl, the global climate 
effect is small, as long as the ocean temperature remains relatively 
constant. Unfortunately, the surface water of the oceans is also 
becoming warmer in tropical- and mid-latitudes and this does contribute 
to changes of weather and climate. It will take several hundred years 
before deep ocean water will start rising in temperature and this may 
become a worse problem than we are currently foreseeing for the 21st or 
22nd centuries.

Brian

MA/NY DDave wrote:
> Hi Brian, EnviroNetrs,
> 
> Thanks Brian,
> 
> Again my question stands for anyone else who might have some more 
> knowledge as to where the media is getting this "Tipping Point" verbiage. 
> 
> Brian, I remember reading recently in Science News that the sub ocean might 
> have been responsible for the last major climate shift.
> 
> YiEngr, MA/NY DDave
> Yours in Engineering, Dave
>