Gulf Stream

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Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream is warm ocean current that flows
past the east coast of North America.
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Thermohaline Circulation
The water in the Gulf Stream eventually sinks (
returns to the equator) because it becomes more
dense. The water becomes more dense because
a) it gets colder
b) it gets saltier (as more more of the water
evaporates)
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The basic premise of the movie
The melting of the Arctic ice caps dilutes the
salt concentration in the Gulf Stream water so
that it doesnt sink. The conveyor stops a
deep freeze results in the North Atlantic.
Brrrrrrr!!!
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How Likely is That?
In its 2007 report the IPCC stated
None of the current models simulates an abrupt
reduction or shutdown.
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The last time the Gulf Stream stopped was 8,200
years ago when the last glacial ice sheets in
North America melted a giant pool of
freshwater built up around the area of the Great
Lakes. One day, the ice dam broke an enormous
amount of freshwater flooded the North Atlantic,
pushing Europe into a little ice age.
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The only way that might happen again is if
Greenland suddenly melted. However, over the
next century, the IPCC expects Greenland to melt
almost 1,000X less than what happened 8,200 years
ago.