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Ocean Current That Keeps Europe Warm Is Weakening Because of Climate Change (washingtonpost.com)

The Washington Post: The Atlantic Ocean circulation that carries warmth into the Northern Hemisphere's high latitudes is slowing down because of climate change, a team of scientists asserted Wednesday, suggesting one of the most feared consequences is already coming to pass (Editor's note: the link may be paywalled; alternative source). The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation has declined in strength by 15 percent since the mid-20th century to a "new record low," the scientists conclude in a peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature. That's a decrease of 3 million cubic meters of water per second, the equivalent of nearly 15 Amazon rivers.

The AMOC brings warm water from the equator up toward the Atlantic's northern reaches and cold water back down through the deep ocean. The current is partly why Western Europe enjoys temperate weather, and meteorologists are linking changes in North Atlantic Ocean temperatures to recent summer heat waves. The circulation is also critical for fisheries off the U.S. Atlantic coast, a key part of New England's economy that have seen changes in recent years, with the cod fishery collapsing as lobster populations have boomed off the Maine coast.

2 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Re:It's the middle of April by farrellj · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Another Trumpie who can't tell the differnece between climate and weather...

    On the other hand, if you want to read some good science fiction based upon this, check out Kim Stanely Robinson's "Science in the Capital" books. Highly recommended!

    http://kimstanleyrobinson.info...

    --
    CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
  2. Re:It's the middle of April by Space+cowboy · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    One is sufficiently exasperated by another's fucking idiocy and ignorance, that one goes to the nearest aircraft hanger, grabs the chocks that prevent planes from just rolling away, and forcibly places them into the fucking ignorant idiot's stomach, by way of the mouth.

    One's blood pressure immediately drops, along with the fucking idiot; dead, that is.

    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!