An Oregon State University scientist’s new climate model simulation of long-term global warming suggests that even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, the planet will continue to get warmer for 100 to 200 years.

The delay would be caused by a warming of the world’s oceans, which would increase biological productivity as well as limit the oceans’ ability to absorb atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide, according to Andreas Schmittner, an oceanographer at OSU and lead author of the study.

Results of the research were just published in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles.

“The results of the model are somewhat alarming because it shows that we cannot wait until we are in danger before beginning to address global warming,” Schmittner said. “We need to be ahead of the curve.”