• HrabiaVulpes
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    1 day ago

    If not for the gulf stream (a constant sea water movement) Europe would be much colder and Northern America much warmer. I wonder if climate warming could potentially stop this gulf stream

    • GelatinGeorge@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      The AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) is now creaking under the weight of all that Pacific heat in the ocean. If that goes - which is looking increasingly likely within the next 25-50 years - then sayonara Gulf Stream and Europe can look forward to what’s likely to be extremely sub-zero winter temperatures and soaring summer temperatures.

      I’m in the UK and I’ve bought an extra pair of mitts and a hand fan, so I’ll be laughing

      • TipRing@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        Just to be clear a collapsing AMOC is projected to slow the gulf stream but not stop it.

        It’s still very very bad though.

        • sparkyshocks@lemmy.zip
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          5 hours ago

          I was flabbergasted the first time I realized just how far north Europe is, compared to North America.

          Paris is at 48° 51’ N, significantly further north than Toronto (43° N), Montreal (45° N). London is at 51°N 30’, which is further north than Vancouver (49° N), and just slightly further north than Calgary (51°N).

          Even southern European cities like Ibiza (39° N) are at comparable latitudes to northern American cities like Philadelphia (40°N) or even New York (41°N).

          If Europe starts seeing climate comparable to similar latitudes in North America, that would represent a huge change from the recorded history.

        • JcbAzPx@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Let’s just put it this way. It is what was thought to have triggered previous ice ages.

        • GelatinGeorge@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Exactly that, yes. We rely on the Gulf Stream for our mild climate so, if that goes, we get the extremes in both summer and winter

    • Jako302@feddit.org
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      1 day ago

      Europe won’t just be colder, the weather will be more extreme in all directions. Hotter summers and colder winters, with stronger storms due to more extreme temperature variances. It will be a fun time all year round for everyone.

      • Frenchgeek@lemmy.ml
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        6 hours ago

        Time to figure out how to put the inside of a building six months away from its outside…

      • 87Six@lemmy.zip
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        1 day ago

        I’m just glad the past few winters were so mild here in romania the past few (5?) years. I dread a really cold winter.

    • 7101334@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Idk if rhetorical question but there’s evidence (iirc, an atypically cold patch of water off of…Greenland?) that the gulf stream may already be breaking down.

    • Impractical_Island@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Just move Europe to the west coast of the south pole and it will drag Italy up the scooter hole of Antarctica, and then we will have the power of Star Gate: Atlantis in our own pants