Recently, scientists have seen concerning changes in the ocean’s Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that helps to regulate the temperatures of Europe.
Climate change affects all of our planet’s processes, but the changes in the Gulf Stream could have devastating effects on Europe and the world.
An Important Current
The Gulf Stream is an extremely important part of maintaining Europe’s temperatures. The current of warm water flows up the East Coast of North America and across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.
The Gulf Stream is affected by the climate. The power of the current is determined by the climate. The weather that occurs at the Gulf can affect the weather and temperature of Europe, too.
The Strength of the Stream
Professor Thornalley of University College London explained, “The ocean moves vast amounts of heat around the globe.”
According to Professor Thornalley, the power of ocean currents is “equivalent to the energy from millions of power stations.”
The Effect of Climate Change
According to a study from the University College London, global warming could lead to the collapse of the Gulf Stream. If this were to happen, temperatures in Europe could drop by up to 27 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees Celsius.
Dr. Jack Wharton, the lead researcher on the study, said, “If in the future winds are weaker, as shown in a recent study using climate models, it could mean a weaker Gulf Stream and a cooler Europe.”
Studying the Ice Age
Dr. Wharton and his team studied the Ice Age in order to come to their Gulf Stream hypothesis. By looking at the climate conditions of the Ice Age, they discovered the possible ways climate change could affect modern-day Europe.
Most of the Northern Hemisphere was covered in a thick ice cap during the Ice Age 20,000 years ago. However, not all of the Northern Hemisphere was dreadfully cold. Scientists currently believe that Europe was most likely protected from the bitter cold by the strong current of the Gulf Stream.
Warm Currents During the Ice Age
Dr. Wharton explained further that scientists “found that during the last ice age, the Gulf Stream was much stronger because of stronger winds across the subtropical North Atlantic.”
“As a result, the Gulf Stream was still moving lots of heat northwards, despite the rest of the planet being far colder,” he continued. Therefore, evidence suggests that the strength of the Gulf Stream depends on factors in the climate. Because we are currently undergoing climate change, this has raised concerns for the future of the Gulf Stream and the continent of Europe.
A Weakened Gulf Stream
According to the University College London researchers, the current climate indicates a weakened Gulf Stream, and climate change will most likely affect the stream further.
The modern weakened Gulf Stream has already “wreaked havoc” on continental agriculture and weather patterns. They note that climate changes (and therefore, changes in the Gulf Stream) would lead to rising sea levels across North America.
Ocean Currents and the World
Climate change could change the strength of the Gulf Stream. Professor Thornalley explained, “Changing the strength of ocean currents can… alter how much heat goes where.”
A difference in the strength of the Gulf Stream “alters our climate, and on shorter timescales our weather,” said Thornalley. Europe’s climate might get drastically colder, but much of the rest of the world’s climate would change as well—all because of the Gulf Streams.
A Pop-Culture Comparison
Some have compared the deep-freeze that could happen to Europe to the eco-horror movie The Day After Tomorrow.
The Day After Tomorrow’s plot revolves around the catastrophic climate effects that could follow the disruption of North Atlantic Ocean circulation. In the film, the effects of climate change lead to catastrophic events and a new ice age.
The Gulf Stream’s Impact on the World
Although The Day After Tomorrow is a very dramatic portrayal of a climate calamity, similar disastrous events could unfold due to the changes in the Gulf Stream and climate change by-and-large.
Researchers are unsure exactly how much of an impact on the world changes in the Gulf Stream could have, but if the Gulf Stream completely collapsed, temperatures in Europe could drop by up to 27 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees Celsius. We all need to be aware of the effects of climate change and do our best to stop the devastation of our Earth before it is too late.
