Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: jeppe_b on 21/10/2015 20:52:02

Title: Is the Gulf Stream slowing down?
Post by: jeppe_b on 21/10/2015 20:52:02

NOAA's September data just came in, still showing an unusual cold patch of water south of Iceland, which has now been there for about a year.

Interesting discussion about the issue on Climate-Debate .com under the title "Is The Gulf Stream slowing down?"

(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/service/global/map-percentile-mntp/201501-201509.gif)

In future, please phrase all topics as a question - Mod.

Title: Re: Is the Gulf Stream slowing down?
Post by: chris on 23/10/2015 07:52:45

The "North Atlantic Overturning Circulation", which is part of the phenomenon known as the "Gulf Stream", is a marine conveyor belt that carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico, near the equator, and dumps it in high latitudes including along the west coast of the UK. One prediction of climate change is that, with rising global temperatures, the melting of Arctic ice adds fresh, cold water (ice melt) to the northern seas; one effect of this is to reduce the flow of warm water moving north. This is discussed in more detail in this interview from a recent show: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/interviews/interview/1001454/

Title: Re: Is the Gulf Stream slowing down?
Post by: Don_1 on 31/10/2015 12:53:11

The Gulf Stream is just a part of an oceanic system which encircles the world.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Thermohaline_Circulation_2.png/350px-Thermohaline_Circulation_2.png)

It isn’t just heat which we need to worry about, but salinity too and melting sea ice and glaciers have their effect on both aspects of the oceans.

It might be that a cessation of this Thermohaline Circulation was the bottom line cause of the Permian mass extinction.