The Coming Global Superstorm
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Art Bell, Whitley Strieber |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
The Coming Global Superstorm (), authored by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber in 1999, presents the argument that global warming might provoke abrupt and severe climate change events.
Thesis
The book contends that the Gulf Stream along with the North Atlantic drift form a warm water shield encircling the North Pole, which confines a cold Arctic air mass. Should the North Atlantic drift experience a shutdown, this protective barrier would disintegrate, releasing icy air across much of the Northern Hemisphere and triggering sudden temperature declines.
The authors associate this possible collapse with the melting of polar ice caps, which may alter ocean salinity by introducing significant quantities of freshwater into the North Atlantic. Bell and Strieber argue that similar oceanic disruptions have taken place in the past, pointing to sophisticated ancient constructions—such as the intricately built basalt structures of Nan Madol—as indicators of civilizations lost due to previous climate disasters.
Additionally, the book cites discoveries of well-preserved mammoths containing undigested vegetation in their mouths, suggesting these creatures were rapidly frozen during sudden global snowstorms, thereby reinforcing their theory of rapid climate transitions.
In popular culture
Throughout the text, italicized fictional vignettes illustrate potential modern repercussions following a collapse of the North Atlantic Current. These dramatizations served as inspiration for the 2004 science fiction motion picture The Day After Tomorrow, which closely mirrors scenarios from the book, including the Gulf Stream’s failure leading to widespread freezing across the northern hemisphere, especially impacting New York City.
See also
- Arnold Federbush, writer of Ice!, a 1978 novel exploring similar concepts
External links
- What Is A Global Superstorm Archived website