In 2004, scientists were alarmed because the Gulfstream mysteriously stopped for 10 days.
They still do not have a satisfactory explanation of what caused this giant convection current system to cease. The Gulfstream, which was discovered by Benjamin Franklin, is responsible for the relatively mild climate of Great Britain and a moderating influence on Western Europe. This week, however, the gulfstream is on vacation in Greenland. So this is what Britain is like without the gulfstream.
6 comments:
Thanks for that fascinating post.
Thanks for the comment. This might explain the current weather we are experiencing in Europe.
The current models of Climate Change actually show that we will experience much harsher winters in this part of the world as part of the equation.
The science is very complicated and unfortunately, the immediate effect is all the change deniers will acept as evidence...
Hey, Im freezing my ass off, so where's this climate change, huh? Smart guy, huh...whadaya talkin about....?
When I first learned of the Gulf Stream's effect on northern Europe, I speculated on just this fact. It seemed to me back then that an awful lot of people have put their faith [and lives] into the hands of a current flow of water.
I read that this current is 'fed' by an intricate interplay of forces which, if slightly altered, would turn Ireland into Quebec.
No doubt those anti-climate change folks are all giddy about your temporary cold weather, believing that weather and climate are equivalent.
Here in Toledo we will dip to 9° tonight, our coldest night so far. Here it is the 2nd week of January and we still haven't been below zero.
Hello Microdot,
There was a program on TV that was dealing with Global Warming, I think it was Nova, and within the program was the scenario of the glacier ice sheets melting on Greenland. We are talking about an ice sheet that is over a mile thick. It is the large amount of melting fresh water running into the ocean that is diluting the salt water and the affect is that it will slow down the Gulf Stream current.
You may very well be correct that the winter everyone is experiencing, the slowing of the Gulf Stream flow, is the outcome of the ice sheets melting.
Your statement is what many climate scientist project and are seeing.
It is a complex interaction and even the salinity of the current is diluted by this massive amount of fresh water is already causing biological havoc with fish, mollusc and plant life in the oceans.
As Hudson so eloquently stated in Aliens ->
"Game over man!,.. Game over!"
Post a Comment