2006-06-20 08:04:15 · 5 answers · asked by Ryan P 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Great question! You might want to think about this on two time scales. Weather is a short term phenomena, and any ocean current is a long term feature. So the question of the North Atlantic Current changing whether is the same as asking if a mountain range changes the weather.
Now, on long time scales, changes in the current will change local climates 'downstream' of the feature. Just as if you bulldozed the mountain. If the NAC were to stop altogether, there would be dramatic changes in the climate of Northern Europe. So in answer to your question, yes it can, and as much as some believe. But, we do not know how the NAC behaves very well. So most of the speculation you hear, especially the doomsayers, is based on very little information. It will be decades before we can predict any kind of climate change with any accuracy. Don't worry about it much. Hope this helps!
2006-06-20 11:30:50 · answer #1 · answered by Karman V 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The North Atlantic can be brutal, especially in the North Sea around Scotland. Ask any sailor.
2006-06-20 08:08:39 · answer #2 · answered by synchronicity915 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup, sure does. I suggest you do some research on ice ages. When the NAdrift stops, an ice age begins. There is wonderful research going on at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on this very phenomenon.
2006-06-20 08:08:05 · answer #3 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my answer has two parts:
yes, it increases temp in the nw europe and keeps its ports mobile through out the year. it enhances the capacity of warm air mass over it to hold more moisture
No, the gulf stream has weakened substantially, it is no longer a weather moderator.
2006-06-20 08:16:15 · answer #4 · answered by rpsjimmy s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah. compare the climate on east and west coast of US.
2006-06-20 08:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋