Will Arctic Meltwater Pool Cause Britain's Temperature to Plummet?

You'd think so going by this new media story:

Average temperatures in Britain could fall by several degrees due to a massive pool of melted ice water heading south from the arctic, scientists have warned.

The pool, which has grown by more than a fifth over the last decade, could interrupt the flow of the Gulf Stream which brings warm water from the tropics, raising average European temperatures by between five and ten degrees Celsius.

Arctic meltwater could lower temperatures at home, study warns



But how much of that is actually true? (Quite apart from the Gulf Stream coming nowhere near Europe - it's actually the NAD (North Atlantic Drift) that carries warmer waters across to Britain). I'll leave you to think about that. But meanwhile, here's a slightly less sensational version of the same story:

Arctic Ocean freshwater will cause 'unpredictable changes on climate'

reply to post by Essan


You call this story new? I have heard this story over and over again for last 10 years or so.

Blah, blah... Global warming - Greenland will melt - Gulf stream will stop - Europe will freeze. Well guess what - it hasn't happened and it's not very likely to happen in the nearest future.

I live in PA sorry but our weather here sucks also, so what if Britian gets some stupid weather conditions??

Ridic warm in Plymouth today, so that pool cant be affecting us too much :p just saying its warm real warm.
and sorrry to be off topic but zynga poker i hate you for freezing me out, thats the only freeze ive felt today and I hate you for it zynga I really do!! pair of Aces! (

reply to post by Essan


Interesting that so many different countries are pooling their data. A good thing too.

Important stuff. Thanks. S&F&

reply to post by archasama


Ah, but this time they've actually found a big pool of cold water!


Though I've not said yet what I really think about this story, which has been widely broadcast in the British media today.