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Failing Ocean Current Raises Fears of Mini Ice Age

Posted by samzenpus on from the let-the-mammoth-hunt-begin dept.

Designadrug writes "This article from Newscientist paints a picture of a major climate control mechanism teetering on the brink: "The ocean current that gives western Europe its relatively balmy climate is stuttering, raising fears that it might fail entirely and plunge the continent into a mini ice age. The dramatic finding comes from a study of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic, which found a 30% reduction in the warm currents that carry water north from the Gulf Stream.""

9 of 568 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds familiar by andy753421 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Wasn't this the plot to a bad movie?

  2. Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Didn't I see a really bad movie about this?

  3. Careful there... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 0, Troll

    if the warm currents are going away from Europe, what will happen to the atlantic?

    Warmer water, more hurricanes, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

    On the other hand, I'd rather see the US going into an ice age. They're the ones that refused to follow the Kyoto protocol.

    1. Re:Careful there... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Because obviously, following a treaty designed to economically punish the United States for a few years would have solved all of this.

      George W. Bush, Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh called and said that, like every other American, they've already fucked you up the ass so it's not necessary for you to keep trying to win brownie points by bending over and holding your asscheeks open for them.

    2. Re:Careful there... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      The global secret's out guys, we might as well stop pretending. You've proven too smart for us, we admit every act which doesn't align with American policy is intented to punish. No one outside of your country does anything unpleasant out of good intent, it's all driven by envy-fueled resentment. Now that we've been caught out.... wooo-hoooo! Man, what a relief to finally come clean. Thanks.

  4. Re:Global Warming! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    We managed to survive in Ice Age eras before

    Tru dat.

    But those who make snarky little comments that get modded up like:

    Of course the earth is self-regulating. See:

    1. Humans cause global warming. ...

    6. Ice caps kick human's ass
    7. No more humans = no more global warming. Problem solved.

    are probably not going to be among those who manage to survive the ice age because:

    1) They typically do not have the skill sets needed to survive such a calamity.
    2) They are prone to making snarky comments and those who do have the skill sets needed to survive will likely be inclined to bust a cap in the smart aleck's ass and then snicker.

  5. Re:Global Warming! by killjoe · · Score: -1, Troll

    Wow, you are a genius!. I will never listen to scientists again. Those guys are idiots compared to you. I don't know how they missed this, I guess all those years of schooling and research are worthless. No wonder you got modded up. I will call you Mr genius from now on!

    --
    evil is as evil does
  6. How long... by Liam+Slider · · Score: 0, Troll

    Until someone blames George W. Bush for this? Come on, you know it's going to happen sooner or later. I mean, there were certain leaders of certain countries that will remain nameless that blamed him for Hurricane Katrina existing... So I can't see how this won't be blamed on him somehow too...

  7. Re:Global Warming! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    All right I am calling bullshit on this one.

    Look anyone that has adopted the new religion of global warming needs to be able to answer two questions.

    1. Are we now just coming out of a cooling trend? The point of this question is several fold. We really do not know what the average temp is supposed to be. In geologic terms until very recently the earth was a good deal warmer then it is now. So are we below normal right now and just warming to reach normal? No one that is trying to push global warming can say yes to that one because it means that nothing that we can do will slow down the warm up in the earth because it is natural and supposed to be warming.

    #2 Next question the earth used to be warm enough that trees would grow in Greenland. (No it is a fact, look it up) We have detailed records of how many trees were taken and so forth. There are no trees that can grow there now. So how warm would it have to be to allow conifers to grow?