The Gulf Stream, the giant heating system of the ocean

The Gulf Stream, the warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic to Europe, will it disappear? Scientists are worried. This ocean currents help warmer areas along the ocean in Europe, which have weakened. This is the consequence of global warming. Melting ice also changes a long-term balance system.

Route of the Gulf Stream

French capital of Paris under thick snow. This rare and impressive image may become normal in the winter from here to decades.

A yearly thick layer of snow is as much as the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Canada or in the United States. France is at the same latitude as these countries, but like all of Europe, France enjoys a favorable regime thanks to the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is a strong warm water flowing from the equator to the North and seasonal, along the southern half of the American coast, then crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the European coast.

This ocean's huge heating system allows Europe to have a more comfortable temperature. Here it was cooled down, the Gulf Stream sank to a depth of 5,000 meters to return to the equator. The problem is that this ocean current has unusual signs. Thanks to the piles placed in the middle of the ocean, British scientists noted that the flow of the Gulf Stream has decreased by 30% in the last 50 years.

According to some scientists, the weakening of the Gulf Stream is due to climate warming. With more hot water in Europe and less salinity due to melting ice in the North, the Gulf Stream's activity will be disturbed like its effect on the climate in Europe.

Some argue that the Gulf Stream may initially compensate for the warming of Europe's climate. But about 100 years later, cold water could prevail and sink Europe into a new ice age.