Will Europe be colder?

The hot currents flowing from the Gulf of Mexico through the Atlantic Ocean to Europe are waning, leading to a situation where there is no supply of heat to the north. This change will make the climate in Europe become even colder in the next few decades.

This is something that scientists from the UK National Oceanographic Center (NOC) observed and have just made a prediction.

After being born in the Caribbean Sea, the stream of hot currents flowing from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe split into two, one flowing northeast to Europe, a circulation back to the Atlantic Ocean. (see picture).

In the process of circulation, the northeastern branch flows into the atmosphere a significant amount of hot air, bringing a warm climate to the mainland of Europe.

"The heat that this ocean current discharges into the environment is equivalent to the amount of heat that a million electricity centers produce, " said NOC scientist Harry Bryden.

When traveling to the northern latitudes of Greenland and Iceland, the current of the ocean current becomes cold, causing it to sink to the ocean floor. This transformation process is called "overturning ".

After that, cold water flows to the south. Like the operation of a closed conveyor belt, the hot water currents will circulate on the ocean surface in the north and the cold water flows backwards at a depth of hundreds or thousands of meters below the ocean floor.

According to the NOC study, in the last half century, the activity of these cold currents has changed dramatically. Bryden said: " We found that the flow of cold water to the south is 30% less than before. In 2004, the flow to the Atlantic Ocean was more and less inflated. Therefore, The amount of heat supplied to Europe becomes less ".

Climate-monitoring computer centers regularly predict that ocean currents in the North Atlantic Ocean may weaken or even disappear altogether. This happens when the Arctic ice sheets melt and the faster Arctic rivers cause salinity in the north seas to drop sharply. The reduced salinity means that the water density will be lower, then the currents will not be able to sink, causing their activities to weaken.

As predicted by climate centers, if these currents are completely lost, Europe will be 4 to 6 degrees C cooler.

Bryden said: " If this happens we will see a change in temperature in the northern latitudes. The previous heat supply to Europe will return to the Atlantic tropical regions, causing strong impact on climate systems in Africa, Mediterranean and Central America ".