World Weather

In the tropical part of the Atlantic, the sun's heat evaporates large amounts of water, creating warm salty ocean water. This water flows Westward toward North America, then up the East Coast of the US before turning northeastern towards Europe: this is known as the Gulf Stream Current. This water is cooled when it reaches the ocean regions of Greenland by the wind from Canada and Greenland, the salty water then becomes very dense and compared to the surrounding water and sinks to the bottom of the Ocean: These are called "deep water formation areas"

The North Atlantic deep water flows southward to Antarctica and eventually makes it way to the Pacific Ocean, where it rises to the surface To complete the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt. This whole circuit takes about 1000 years to complete.

Global Warming

This will increase precipitation , river run off , melting of the Greenland Ice sheet and melting of polar ice , all of which increase the amount of fresh water flowing into the deep water formations near Greenland. Views are that global warming will not affect abrupt climate change in the next 100 years.

Measurements taken in the North Atlantic show a decrease in salinity over the last 30 years: this is due to additional fresh water inputs from three sources

1. Precipitation and river run off have increased by 7% to 12% between 30 degrees N and 85 degrees N in the past 100 years
2. Higher temperatures in the Arctic have caused a 40% thinning of the polar sea ice in the past 40 years. This information has been gathered by submarines
3. The Greenland Ice Sheet has been melting at the rate of 0.13 mm per year increase in global sea level.

A shut down of the Gulf Stream would very suddenly decrease the amount of heat in the North Atlantic which would cause much colder temperatures in Europe and North America. Temperatures would drop 5 digrees F in North America and 6 degrees F in Europe . This is not enough for an Ice Age which requires a drop of 10 degrees F.

In 1816 there was no summer, what happened was that volcanic ash from the eruption on the Tambora in Indonesia which blocked the sunrays which cooled the world? There was snow in New England in June and frosts in July and August which caused crop failures and famine in New England and Northern Europe

Historical records show that sudden climate change is not only possible; it's the normal state of affairs. The present warm climate is unusual , until we are more sure what lies in the future it would be of huge benefit to stop pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere .