2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #9
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Feb 21, 2021 through Sat, Feb 27, 2021
Editor's Choice Climate Change is Weakening the Ocean Currents That Shape Weather on Both Sides of the Atlantic The change in the main ocean heat pump could bring more heat waves to Europe, increase sea level rise in North America and force fish to move farther north.
Since the end of the last ice age, a swirling system of ocean-spanning currents has churned consistently in the Atlantic, distributing heat energy along the ocean surface from the tropics toward the poles, with heavy, cold water slowly flowing back toward the equator along the bottom of the sea.
Collectively known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, the currents played a key role in shaping the climate of eastern North America and Western Europe, and thus the development of civilizations there. But in the 20th century, the circulation has weakened more than at any other time during at least the last 1,000 years, new research shows.
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Together with other studies showing that global warming is driving the weakening, the new findings suggest that the circulation will lose even more strength in the decades ahead. That could cause heat and cold extremes in Europe and rapid sea level rise along the East Coast of the United States. As it weakens, pools of warm water form. That can lead to ocean heat waves , with increasing evidence that overheating oceans are linked with droughts and heat waves on nearby land areas.
The overturning circulation loops like a 10,000-mile conveyor belt through the North and South Atlantic, connecting polar regions. It brings cold water up from the deep, sends warmer water across the surface and then drops it back down thousands of miles away as it cools.
Click here to access the entire article as originally posed on the Inside Climate News website.
Climate Change is Weakening the Ocean Currents That Shape Weather on Both Sides of the Atlantic
Articles Linked to on Facebook Sun, Feb 21, 2021
Media reaction: Texas ‘deep freeze’, power blackouts and the role of global warming EU seeks alliance with U.S. on climate change, tech rules Texas Blackouts Point to Coast-to-Coast Crises Waiting to Happen Warmer California Winters May Fuel Grapevine-Killing Pierce’s Disease Texas freeze shows a chilling truth – how the rich use climate change to divide us Warming Trends: A Facebook Plan to Debunk Climate Myths, ‘Meltdown’ and a Sad Yeti
Mon, Feb 22, 2021
What the Texas blackout reveals about America's climate vulnerability ‘Absolutely ridiculous’: top scientist slams UK government over coalmine Kerry’s claim that ‘we have nine years left’ to avert the climate crisis Wind turbines can handle the cold just fine. Just look at Iowa. After Blackout, Questions Emerge on Future Greening of Texas’s Grid How Texas froze: Neglect of power-grid and climate warnings set the icy stage
Tue, Feb 23, 2021
The Climate Connections of a Record Fire Year in the U.S. West Australia was the first casualty of the big blackout lie blaming wind power – the US could be next The internet's big carbon footprint need not doom the climate As Cities Grapple With Climate Change, Gas Utilities Fight To Stay In Business U.S. energy regulator to examine climate change's threat to power reliability Warmer Temperatures May Offer California Farmers a Rare Silver Lining: Fewer Frosts
Wed, Feb 24, 2021
The Weekly Planet: The Great Climate Bill of 2021 Is Being Shaped Now Hit by hurricanes and Covid, more Central Americans go hungry and plan to migrate Here’s how to talk with your kids about climate anxiety Climate change is not priced into markets but its effect could be substantial, experts say After the Texas freeze, people are asking: Is electrifying buildings risky? Climate lessons from Texas' frozen power outages
Thu, Feb 25, 2021
White House Rescinds Trump Climate-Related NEPA Guidance Biden’s Climate Envoy, at U.N., Likens Global Inaction to a ‘Suicide Pact’ Scientists see stronger evidence of slowing Atlantic Ocean circulation, an ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the climate Why don’t more U.S. schools teach about climate change? Activists Say USPS Truck Purchase Defies Biden’s EV Order 3 popular policies Democrats can use to fight climate change and boost the economy
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
We’re killing those tropical trees we’re counting on to absorb carbon dioxide “Science-based” corporate climate targets are no such thing, says former advisor A third of all food in the U.S. gets wasted. Fixing that could help fight climate change. A Clean Energy Milestone: Renewables Pulled Ahead of Coal in 2020 Biden is hiking the cost of carbon. It will change how the U.S. tackles global warming. United Nations: Countries’ pledges to cut emissions are far too meager to halt climate change
Sat, Feb 27, 2021
How the Race for Renewable Energy is Reshaping Global Politics Climate Change is Weakening the Ocean Currents That Shape Weather on Both Sides of the Atlantic Warming Trends: A Baby Ferret May Save a Species, Providence, R.I. is Listed as Endangered, and Fish as a Carbon Sink Global freshwater fish populations at risk of extinction, study finds UN: New national climate pledges will only cut emissions ‘by 2%’ over next decade Climate change: Carbon emission promises 'put Earth on red alert' Posted by John Hartz on Saturday, 27 February, 2021
