The Silver Ink

Monday, November 23, 2020
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Human-caused global warming slowing down Atlantic Ocean overturning

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atlantic-ocean-02

The continuous slowdown of the Gulf Stream system can impose severe negative impact on the marine ecosystems, including the sea level and weather mechanism, in the United States and Europe, according to a new study.

The slowdown of the Gulf Stream system has been triggered by the human-caused global warming.

The Atlantic overturning, which is also known as the Gulf Stream system, was one of the most vital heat transport systems of the Earth that has been pumping warm water towards north and cold water in the south.  The Atlantic system is also responsible for maintaining the mild climate in the north-western part of Europe.

The scientists have found evidence for the overturning slowdown. According to them, there are multiple lines of observation that suggests that the current system in recent decades has been weaker than earlier in the last century and even in the last millennium.

The gradual and accelerated melting of the ice-sheet in Greenland, caused by human influenced global warming, is a possible biggest contributor to the slowdown of the overturning.

The researchers call the recent changes unprecedented since the year 900 AD, which strongly suggests that they are caused by global warming which has been caused by human activities.

The overturning in Atlantic systems was triggered by the differences in the ocean water density. The warmer and lighter water from the south flows northwards, where the colder and heavier water is forced to sink to deeper layers of ocean and hence flows southwards.

The observed cooling along south of Greenland in the North Atlantic was stronger compared to what most computer-based climate simulations have predicted so far.

According to the researchers, the cooling down above the Northern Atlantic would slightly lower the continued pace of warming of the continents. The researchers are not expecting a new ice age. But, it is well established that a gradual change in the circulation of Atlantic Ocean could impose major negative effects.

And in the case the Atlantic Ocean circulation weakens to a greater extent, it can even lead to a complete breakdown. This mean the situation will lead to a relatively rapid and hard-to-reverse change.

Gulf Stream slowdown is faster than ever

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gulfstreamGulf Stream the warm current in the Atlantic ocean have slowed to the weakest  in as long as 1,000 years. This will show a great impact on the European and U.S weather and coastal sea levels in New York and Boston.

Gulf Stream is the hot water current which is responsible for the mild weather in northwestern Europe.

Scientists led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said in a study Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change that the currents are affected by changes in the ocean density as fresh water melts from the Arctic ice sheets.

Slower circulation of the current will make Europe colder by depriving northern latitudes of warm currents.

Researchers are raising concerns regarding the slower movement of Gulf Stream. Man made Climate change is held responsible for this.

Stefan Rahmstorf, an institute scientist and lead author of its study, said “One specific area in the North Atlantic has been cooling in the past hundred years while the rest of the world heats up, if the slowdown of the Atlantic overturning continues, the impacts might be substantial.”

Scientist used atmospheric and sea surface temperature data form tree-rings, ice-cores, coral, ocean and lake sediments to document ocean currents that convey heat, tracing temperature swings for more than a millennium.

Pennsylvania State University’s Michael Mann said in the statement, climate models should be updated as they underestimate the effects of ice melts and temperature swings.

‘Tide of the century’ attracts thousands of tourists at Mont Saint-Michel

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MONTSAINTMICHEL

The water level of Atlantic Ocean was raised high as Mont Saint-Michel on Saturday received its “tide of the century”, creating a spectacular sight for the thousands of tourists.

Mont Saint-Michel, a granite island in the midst of a bay in northwestern France, received the biggest tide in the century that grew as high as a four-story building.

The tide grew to the height of an estimated maximum of 14.6 metres. The footbridge, which has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1979, connecting the French coast with Mont Saint-Michel was wholly submerged in to waters for the first time in this millennium.

According to the researchers, the supertide is likely to be witnessed again in the year 2033 as it repeats itself in nearly every 18 years.

The monster-like supertide earned the attraction tens of thousands of tourists and adventure lovers.

The natural event turned tragic for two men who lost their lives after being drown near Rocher de Saint-Nicolas and Ile Grande. According to the eye witnesses, they were apparently swallowed up by the rising ocean water levels.

Besides contemplating the magnificent seascape dotted with improvised islets, visitors could enjoy the

With the “tide of the century”, the adventure lovers also took the best out of the rare opportunity when they had rare glimpse of marine creatures, such as shellfish, turtles, clams, crustaceans, mussels, shrimp , lobsters and many more.

The tide event also bolstered the economy of the region as the inflow of tourists was high.

“Besides the ‘tide of the century’ on March 21, there will be four other days when the tide will also be exceptional: April 19, August 31, September 29 and October 28,” an Odalys Vacance spokesperson said.

Mont Saint-Michel region is visited by over three million people every year.

 

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