Europe's warming current weakening

[nebula]

Study: Current that warms Europe weakening

Change could cause dramatic temperature drop

By David Williams

Thursday, December 1, 2005; Posted: 10:08 a.m. EST (15:08 GMT)

(CNN) -- The Atlantic Ocean's flow between the tropics and cold, northern waters appears to be weakening, which could drastically alter the weather in Europe, a newly released study shows.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, found that the Atlantic Conveyor flow slowed by about 30 percent between 1957 and 2004.

The cycle of flow, technically known as the "Atlantic meridional overturning current," plays a key role in warming northern Europe.

This conveyor belt process "brings heat northward, gives it up to the atmosphere, and we benefit in England from having the winds pick up this heat and blow ... relatively warmer air over us," said oceanographer Harry Bryden, one of the study's authors. "So that's what gives us a good climate even in wintertime in England."

Bryden said that climate models suggest that if the Atlantic Conveyor shut down, temperatures in northwest Europe could drop by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius, or about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, in 20 years.

The Atlantic Conveyor works because the cold water of the North Atlantic gets saltier and more dense, causing it to sink to the bottom of the ocean and flow south.

Warmer surface water then flows north from the tropics until it gets cold and sinks Then the process starts over.

"Overall, there was a reduction in the net northward transport of warm upper waters, and a reduction also in the net amount of southward transport of cold, deep waters," Bryden said. . . .

Full article

[apothanein kerdos]

Last time this occured Europe was thrust into a "mini ice age" that lasted almost 600 years and had a devastating impact on the people.

[WillingToDie]

Last time this occured Europe was thrust into a "mini ice age" that lasted almost 600 years and had a devastating impact on the people.

Just curious, because I'm too lazy to look it up, how long ago was this?

[nebula]

Something like the 14-18(?) centuries.

[apothanein kerdos]

Last time this occured Europe was thrust into a "mini ice age" that lasted almost 600 years and had a devastating impact on the people.

Just curious, because I'm too lazy to look it up, how long ago was this?

Lasted from about 1200 to 1800...in fact, look in some of the weather alminacs of 1815. It was the year without a summer. Blizzards recorded in June (in New England), and freezing temps in July and August. After that time it began to warm up again. The warm weather we've enjoyed has really only been expirienced recently.

[WillingToDie]

Thanks to both of you

You learn something new evey day