Posted on 03/24/2015 11:12:55 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The slowdown of major Atlantic currents could lead to irreversible effects on Earth.
New research suggests the observed slowdown in major Atlantic Ocean currents is linked to the Greenland ice sheet's accelerated melting.
The rapid melting of the ice sheet is believed to be a result of man-made global warming, and its impacts could have a major impact on marine ecosystems, sea levels, and weather systems across Europe and the United States, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) reported.
"It is conspicuous that one specific area in the North Atlantic has been cooling in the past hundred years while the rest of the world heats up," said Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, lead author of the study to be published in Nature Climate Change. "Now we have detected strong evidence that the global conveyor has indeed been weakening in the past hundred years, particularly since 1970."
Data from ice cores, tree rings, coral, and sediments suggest the recent changes are unprecedented since about 900 A.D., which means they are most likely related to man-made global warming.
The slowdown in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and other ocean currents is believed to be driven by differences in the density of the ocean water. Warm, light water flows from the south towards the north, while cold, dense northern water flows southwards. Freshwater from the melting Greenland ice sheet is most likely disrupting this natural circulation by diluting ocean water (freshwater is less dense that ocean water with high salinity). The researchers believe the cooling of the North Atlantic is more dramatic than what computer climate simulations have generally determined.
"Common climate models are underestimating the change we're facing, either because the Atlantic overturning is too stable in the models or because they don't properly account for Greenland ice sheet melt, or both," said Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University. "That is another example where observations suggest that climate model predictions are in some respects still overly conservative when it comes to the pace at which certain aspects of climate change are proceeding."
The scientists do not believe northern Atlantic cooling will prompt a new ice age, but even a gradual change in ocean currents is likely to have major negative effects. It could even lead to a "tipping point" in the Earth system, triggering rapid and irreversible changes. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted there is a one-in-10 chance of this happening within a century, but expert surveys have suggested the risk could be even higher.
"If the slowdown of the Atlantic overturning continues, the impacts might be substantial," said Rahmstorf. "Disturbing the circulation will likely have a negative effect on the ocean ecosystem, and thereby fisheries and the associated livelihoods of many people in coastal areas. A slowdown also adds to the regional sea-level rise affecting cities like New York and Boston. Finally, temperature changes in that region can also influence weather systems on both sides of the Atlantic, in North America as well as Europe."
“let me guess ... redistriubution, more government, less freedom, less cheap energy and more taxes is the solution right?”
So my question to them is, “How do you plan on changing this and what is the mitigation strategy if you are wrong and change it too much?”
When I saw that Michael Mann, the hockey-stick fraudster, had a hand in this I quit reading.
“New research suggests the observed slowdown in major Atlantic Ocean currents is linked to the Greenland ice sheet’s accelerated melting.
The rapid melting of the ice sheet is believed to be a result of man-made global warming, and its impacts could have a major impact on marine ecosystems, sea levels, and weather systems across Europe and the United States, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) reported.”
Suggests. Believed.
Yup, that’s science.
Must be from white Christain me driving their speed boats the wrong way.
Al gore predicted that the sea levels would be rising by 20 feet or more.
But then Obama got Immaculated and told us that his ascent to the Throne stopped the rise in the ocean levels.
It's getting so confusing you can't tell which one is the better liar.
If the slowdown of the Atlantic overturning continues, the impacts might be substantial...Operative words:
If -- may or may not happen
might -- may or may not be
substantial -- noticeable?, damaging?, catastrophic?
Conclusion: We're all gonna die because of global warming.
Is the universe on the brink of collapse? Study says catastrophic event is 'imminent'
Good article on this at wattsupwiththat.com
OH MY GOD! let’s panic over something we have no clue as to whether or not it’s normal or has happened in the past or is possibly a frequent occurrence in geological time frames! I didn’t read past the title, never bother too with hysterical, could, may possibly might happen fear mongering. Has manbearpig weighed in yet?
These people have a lot of power and they are hysterical and crazy. I would not put any degree of evil past them.
OMG! The dreaded "tipping point" is back. These idiots have no sense of systems engineering and the stability of earth's climate system.
Every time this happened before 900 AD. What caused it then?
20,000 yrs ago the Great Lakes were covered by mile thick ice. 20,000 yrs in the future the Great Lakes will be covered by mile thick ice.
I guess this means I live in the north Atlantic. I did not know this.
Oh well, you learn something new every day.
"expert surveys"
That's funny.
“Expert surveys” carry more weight than mere “consensus.”
And one of the main peddlars of the emitic is our fraudulant friend Tom Mann from PSU. Why doesn’t that creep move over to that Brit campus that colluded with him in concocting the fictitious “hockey stick” graph a few years ago, where he’d really fit in?
Uh, anyone ever hear of salt water pumps? See, easy solution right there. They could be solar or wind powered. Don’t worry about the chopped up sea critters or chopped and crisped sea gulls. After all, it’s for the good of the era.
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