The idea is that the sudden dump of fresh melt water from the Artic
and Greenland one of these summers will achieve a tipping point where
the salinity of the North Atlantic is so diluted that the normal
action of the Gulf Stream is affected. The 'Conveyor' shuts down
locally because cooling water from the Gulf Stream can't sink and
return.
Last time this happened was when the North American glacial lake
broke out through the St Lawrence, leaving behind the mere puddle
called the Great Lakes.
The result would be a warm Canada and frozen W. Europe.
There will, of course, be immediate screams that this is all BS but
we're getting to understand the timescale, mechanism and effect of
ice melting rather well, following recent Ice Shelf losses.
Andrew Fildes
afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 03/03/2009, at 8:54 AM, Richard Lovison wrote:
> Andrew Fildes wrote:
>> You wait until the Gulf Stream shuts down mate - then you're in
>> strife!
>> Andrew Fildes
>> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Yes, this is something that isn't being talked about... the possible
> shutdown has to do with the amount of fresh water being dumped into
> the
> ocean with arctic melting, doesn't it?
--
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