However, our results do not support the “deep-reaching” acceleration. We show that the ∆SST effect dominates and causes a striking global acceleration of surface currents as reported in recent observations ( 2, 3). Using an ocean general circulation model (OGCM), here we systematically evaluate the ocean current responses to the three components of surface forcing-changes in wind stress (∆Wind), SST (∆SST), and SSS (∆SSS). The increased SST dominates the upper ocean heat content change ( 14, 15) and could intensify the surface subtropical gyre in a warmer climate ( 9, 16). The impacts of increased sea surface temperature (SST) on ocean circulation, on the other hand, receive much less attention. For example, decreased sea surface salinity (SSS) in the subpolar North Atlantic is projected to slow the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) ( 10– 13). Surface buoyancy (heat and freshwater) forcing could become important in regulating ocean circulation under global warming ( 7– 9).
Naturally, most studies have so far focused on the effect of wind change, but the projected change in the atmospheric circulation suffers from large uncertainties (fig. The idea is to canvas for a paradigm shift in the management of the environment by co-opting „ordinary people‟ to participate in shifting the environmental paradigm of this age.The upper ocean circulation is largely wind driven. The Kuhnian notion of „paradigm shift‟ shall be adopted as a framework to establish a workable panacea to change the narrative. Using the analytic and critical methods, this paper attempts to situate the impact of science and technology and the activities of the ordinary people on the environment. A shift in paradigm means a deliberate departure from the old way of doing things in other to face new challenges that may have been caused by the former way things were done. These anomalies will lead to crisis that will finally lead to a shift in paradigm thus heralding a scientific revolution. But a time will come when anomalies would begin to be noticed in accepted paradigms. But the question is what is the cause of the increase in environmental disasters? Is anything being done to change the narrative? Are the „ordinary people‟ aware of the impact of their use and enjoyment of science and technology on the environment? Who takes the lead in shifting the paradigm? Thomas Kuhn had opined in his magnus-opus – The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, that every paradigm has relevance in the age to which it is accepted and practiced by the scientific community.
Issues such as global warming, climate change, flooding, desertification, air, water and land pollutions, deforestation, wild fires among so many debilitating issues that affect the environment today have become a source of concern to world leaders, environmentalists, philosophers and other concerned individuals. Most of these disasters are not natural but as a consequence of the activities of human beings and their science including their technological apparatuses and deployments. Across the nations of the world, serious attention is now being paid to the environment because of the increase in environmental disasters.
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