Significant Weakening Of Gulf Stream Detected


Posted by: Indy
On: Sun May, 8 2005 @ 08:01 GMT
Scientists have found evidence that the sinking mechanism that drives
the Gulf Stream has weakened to less than 25% of its original
strength. The results could mean a significant cooling for Britain and
Europe.


original news source:

www.timesonline.co.uk
CLIMATE change researchers have detected the first signs of a slowdown
in the Gulf Stream — the mighty ocean current that keeps Britain and
Europe from freezing.

They have found that one of the “engines” driving the Gulf Stream —
the sinking of supercooled water in the Greenland Sea — has weakened
to less than a quarter of its former strength.

The weakening, apparently caused by global warming, could herald big
changes in the current over the next few years or decades.
Paradoxically, it could lead to Britain and northwestern and Europe
undergoing a sharp drop in temperatures.


Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


This discovery is absolutely incredible. I do believe they have
greatly understated the effects of a current failure. That part is
subject to debate. In my opinion the most concerning quote from the
story was "Until recently we would find giant ‘chimneys’ in the sea
where columns of cold, dense water were sinking from the surface to
the seabed 3,000 metres below, but now they have almost disappeared."

If and when the current fails the effects will quickly wrap around the
globe. If anything global warming may amplify the effects by greating
greater temperature differences from north to south and provide the
instability necessary to create huge storms by creating a greater
verticle temperature difference.

http://www.atsnn.com/story/139186.html