On Jul 27, 2009, at 6:27 AM, Jed Rothwell wrote:
Horace Heffner wrote:
It may also permanently disappear too fast to avoid the loss of
power by other means.
What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that the Gulf Stream
may stop or shift locations?
Yes. Disruption of the thermohaline circulation may have already
happened somewhat in the past, making for cold weather year round in
the Northern Hemisphere. Melting of the polar ice could produce a
new (but probably short!) ice age, even though global temperatures
increase.
I have never heard that before. It has been in the same location at
the same strength since 1500 as far as anyone knows.
- Jed
All that can change very rapidly if polar ice, and thus freshwater
melt, disappear.
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
