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The effect of the Gulf Stream on European climate isn't as large as often made out to be. The simple fact that Europe is on the western side of a continental la
by spiralx 6y ago
The effect of the Gulf Stream on European climate isn't as large as often made out to be. The simple fact that Europe is on the western side of a continental landmass accounts for a huge portion of its climate - air travelling west to east over the ocean absorbs warm moisture and heats up, as the wind travels east across land it sheds that moisture via rain and becomes dryer and colder.
It's one of the reasons why Vancouver and London have similar climates, and both never get as cold as either of New York or Vladivostok, both of which are to the south of them.
- dillondoyle 6y agointeresting. the study i read did mention the UK as a big effect if it slows down, would get much colder. and maybe im not understanding the west to east air over ocean, isn't that specifically what we're talking about slowing down / potentially worst case stopping or totally changing?
- spiralx 6y agohttps://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-weather-typically-so-much-better-on-the-West-Coast-than-on-the-East-Coast/answer/Anne-Whitacre-1 https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-weather-typically-so-much-b... It's actually more complicated than that - the Gulf Stream contributes not to warming Europe but to cooling the eastern seaboard of the US: https://www.livescience.com/13573-east-coast-colder-europe-west-coast.html https://www.livescience.com/13573-east-coast-colder-europe-w...