Live data from Hacker News

Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

theguardian.com

11–20 of 441 posts

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#12
What would happen if the Gulf Stream did collapse?

Would a different similar circulatory system emerge soon after?

Would the lack of a dominant system lead to many more smaller chaotic systems?

Do we just not know what would happen, so that it's concerning in that it's unknowable?

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#13
post #6

Can't read the whole article, but how radically can the Gulf Stream really change? Isn't a current going in that general direction more or less mandated by the Coriolis effect? It's why I figured the west and east coasts of continents at similar latitudes (both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres) have similar climate patterns. (West coasts more temperate, east coasts more variable and humid).

For the first part of your quesition, to quote wikipedia (feel free to check the primary sources yourself):

> Atlantic overturning is not a static feature of global circulation, but rather a sensitive function of temperature and salinity distributions as well as atmospheric forcings. Paleoceanographic reconstructions of AMOC vigour and configuration have revealed significant variations over geologic time [34][35] complementing variation observed on shorter scales.[36][14]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_meridional_overturnin...

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#14

Makes me look back at the last 20-30 years of discourse in the United States and let out a deep sigh. Had CFC propellants emerged today, I highly doubt the U.S. would have been a signatory to the Montreal Protocol — just to own the libs or avoid hindering the market by a boogeyman of 0.0001% overhead or some other form of contrarian political identity differentiation.

Yeah - even where I am there has been a pull back on stuff.

We've got a ban on plastic straws (ie, you can't use one then throw it in the trash in the resteraunt) to help save nature. But you go outside and the amount of trash just blowing into the water from various encampments near the water is just nuts.

Their are claims of concerns about carbon emissions, but absolute opposition to any work around nuclear. If carbon emissions was the or a very important issue, you'd be going full out on lots of ideas.

I followed the attempted development of a solar install closely in a rich / white area (hard left otherwise). It was fought tooth and nail. the erosion underneath, the shading of a creek, this and that. Really - they didn't want to look at it. Full stop.

So yes, even my early passion for some things have moderated a bit. It seems to be the left telling other people how to live. Heaven forbid folks live in smaller houses in the US, instead we are on china for their emissions (likely half per capita of US?)

I'd love to see more problem solving from the left, rather than the sort of in your face bans on things. Can't we tax plastic straws 1 cent per straw or do a carbon tax or something that's a bit less nanny state style or so random and arbitrary?

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#15
post #6

Can't read the whole article, but how radically can the Gulf Stream really change? Isn't a current going in that general direction more or less mandated by the Coriolis effect? It's why I figured the west and east coasts of continents at similar latitudes (both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres) have similar climate patterns. (West coasts more temperate, east coasts more variable and humid).

The coriolis effect only applies to things in motion, it adds a perceived bend. Something still has to drive the motion. Currently that's the cold water sinking in the arctic. Fresh water influx from melting and additional warming can lead to stratification which prevents it from sinking. This will lead to overall less ocean circulation which will have more detrimental effects beyond just altering europe's weather patterns.

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#16

I was able to read only the abstract - "Rent or Buy article for $8.99". Brings up the question, what does "rent an article" mean ?

I suspect some shitty DRM that gives you access for a while with attempts to limit your ability to save, copy or print the article?

Scummy practice nonetheless. Sci-hub doesn't have this yet but I expect it to appear there soon enough.

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#18

Makes me look back at the last 20-30 years of discourse in the United States and let out a deep sigh. Had CFC propellants emerged today, I highly doubt the U.S. would have been a signatory to the Montreal Protocol — just to own the libs or avoid hindering the market by a boogeyman of 0.0001% overhead or some other form of contrarian political identity differentiation.

Yeah - even where I am there has been a pull back on stuff. We've got a ban on plastic straws (ie, you can't use one then throw it in the trash in the resteraunt) to help save nature. But you go outside and the amount of trash just blowing into the water from various encampments near the water is just nuts. Their are claims of concerns about carbon emissions, but absolute opposition to any work around nuclear. If car…

Trash from encampments is negligible when you realize how many plastics are just dumped into the ocean

Re: Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Gulf Stream

#19

I was able to read only the abstract - "Rent or Buy article for $8.99". Brings up the question, what does "rent an article" mean ?

"Time-limited", as the explanatory text right below says:

Get time limited or full article access on ReadCube.

I fear to ask what the DRM scheme is.

Post reply on HN