Fears of big freeze as scientists detect slower Gulf Stream

Fears of big freeze as scientists detect slower Gulf Stream
By Steve Connor, Science Editor

The ocean "engine" that helps to drive the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and keeps Britain relatively mild in winter has begun to slow down, say scientists.

Measurements of ocean currents in the North Atlantic reveal that they have weakened by about 30 per cent since 1992. The findings, published in the journal Nature, fit computer predictions of what would happen when Greenland glaciers begin to melt because of global warming. The models suggest that extra freshwater released into the North Atlantic could weaken ocean currents and even shut down the Gulf Stream.

...

Scientists estimate that the detected 30 per cent weakening of the Atlantic currents could lead to a fall of about 1C in Britain's average temperatures over the next 20 years.

They also warn that the weakening could be the first signs of an accelerating trend that could eventually lead to a more drastic change, including a complete shutdown of the currents. If this were to happen, average temperatures in Britain could fall by between 4C and 6C, leading to winter temperatures similar to Newfoundland in Canada, which is on the same latitude as the UK but does not benefit from the Gulf Stream.

...

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article330454.ece

that is drastic.

... so much of this is rate-dependent, when considering how to mitigate the problem. If the changes are happening much faster than the solutions are made available to correct the problem, the currently available solutions don't work.... *sigh*

did you notice how the stories around this hurricane season changed from on made more drastic by global warming to a regular cycle?

well it might be a regular cycle -- but i'll bet it's been one long damn time since the hurricane season saw ocean temps this warm.

anyway -- i digress -- i think that britain believes that the gulf stream WILL fail.

which makes tony blair's kissing up to george re: environmental protocols all the more mysterious -- or perhaps he now has a -- ''well, too late now -- so fuck it attitude''.

... has nothing to do with environmental protocols.

It has to do with Iraqi oil.

Oil keeps the UK warm as the Gulf Stream halts.

Cheers.

and the poodle is hip to that lick.

the poodle's not stupid -- he's just -- well, a poodle.

... and then tell me what you think:

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/2005/crudedesigns.htm#conclusion

Cheers.

i am saying britain expects the gulf stream to fail.

and i don't think that tony thinks that there is enough iraq oil to off set becoming a second new foundland.

that doesn't mean they won't do it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5487147&mesg_id=5487147


This needs to be blasted to Senators/Reps/MSM.

And it's a hell of a long way from London to Baghdad - lotsa luck with those pipelines, Tony!

it's really a shame what we've done to our mother

world in the path of the gulf stream and pour on the coal.... just to keep the earth's "air conditioner" working. Pity we would have to use our technology for peaceful and humanitarian causes as the earth seems to be dictating such. Witness the military needed for Katrina and other events, earthquakes, volcanoes.... there will come a time when the earth demands all of our military resources for survival purposes, and if that doesn't equate with beating your swords into plowshares.... I don't know what does.

...urgent and so widely ignored. Also, it's been predicted by more than a few reputable climatologists. Here's an interesting read called "The Great Climate Flip Flop," which appeared in Atlantic Monthly in '98. What's beginning to happen is clearly spelled out in it. Scroll down past the book promo to read the article.

http://williamcalvin.com/1990s/1998AtlanticClimate.htm