"Fears of Big Freeze as Scientists Detect Slower Gulf Stre

[GreenPartyVoter]

The ocean "engine" that helps to drive the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and keeps Britain relatively mild in winter has begun to slow down, say scientists.

Measurements of ocean currents in the North Atlantic reveal that they have weakened by about 30 per cent since 1992. The findings, published in the journal Nature, fit computer predictions of what would happen when Greenland glaciers begin to melt because of global warming. The models suggest that extra freshwater released into the North Atlantic could weaken ocean currents and even shut down the Gulf Stream.

Britain benefits from the enormous amounts of heat - equivalent to the output of a million power stations - carried from the Caribbean by the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift, and a tailing off in these currents could have a major impact on the country's climate.

Scientists estimate that the detected 30 per cent weakening of the Atlantic currents could lead to a fall of about 1C in Britain's average temperatures over the next 20 years.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1201-03.htm

[mndfler]

1. Just buy a lot of space heaters

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yeah, that'll do the trick.

[afdip]

3. so much for global worming . . . oops, make that "warming"

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. The possible colder weather is due to global warming, though.

[Lorien]

5. Kick

:kick:

[seabeyond]

6. too hot? too cold? i want to know n/t

[mainegreen]

7. You know thats going to make us colder us here in Maine also?

Better stock up on window wrap!