Oceans are usually thought to take much longer to
change (it takes six years for ocean currents to
get from Labrador to Bermuda), so those who worry about
abrupt climate change tend to look at potential cell reorganizations in the atmosphere with considerable interest.
Abrupt climate change — a term and issue not often discussed even among many climatologists just a few years ago — is
getting increased attention, in part stemming from a recent National Research Council report on the issue.