Oh, crap… (ocean currents edition)
Following close on the heels of news that atmospheric CO2 levels are at a 650,000-year high, comes this cheerful little tidbit:
“The ocean current that gives western Europe its relatively balmy climate is stuttering, raising fears that it might fail entirely and plunge the continent into a mini ice age.
The dramatic finding comes from a study of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic, which found a 30% reduction in the warm currents that carry water north from the Gulf Stream…”
- New Scientist, Failing ocean current raises fears of mini ice-age
Global warming is real, as evidenced by the huge reduction in arctic ice coverage. But it may have amplifying and paradoxical effects as the thermal and salinity-balance of ocean currents changes from melting ice.
I saw the story about the speed reduction in the Atlantic currents on CBC news tonight, and it simultaneously scared and saddened me. Combine that kind of thing with overfishing and dumping into the oceans, and we’re in deep cat poo. We have 3 (soon to be 4) cats here, and that stuff stinks. IOW, things are not pleasant in the oceans, which supports all life on earth.