• tal@lemmy.today
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    4 days ago

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

    Because atmospheric patterns also play a large role in heat transfer, the idea the climate in northern Europe would be as cold as that in northern North America without heat transport via ocean currents (i.e. up to 15–20 °C (27–36 °F) colder) is generally considered incorrect.[35][36] While one modeling study suggested collapse of the AMOC could result in Ice Age-like cooling, including sea-ice expansion and mass glacier formation, within a century,[37][38] the accuracy of those results is questionable.[39] There is a consensus the AMOC keeps northern and western Europe warmer than it would be otherwise,[16] with the difference of 4 °C (7.2 °F) and 10 °C (18 °F) depending on the area.[14] For instance, studies of the Florida Current suggest the Gulf Stream was around 10% weaker from around 1200 to 1850 due to increased surface salinity, and this likely contributed to the conditions known as Little Ice Age.[40]

    Well, if the UK cools by 4 °C, I guess that’ll mitigate one global warming issue:

    https://www.eenews.net/articles/boiling-britain-how-ac-could-become-a-uk-political-priority/

    Boiling Britain: How AC could become a UK political priority

    LONDON — The spate of heat waves that left Europe sweaty and irate has by now largely passed. But a debate in Britain that could become a political wedge issue over air conditioning is only just getting started.

    Advocates for wider AC installation argue that increasing its adoption could raise living standards and productivity for a Labour government keen to make gains with frustrated voters and, perhaps counterintuitively, even advance the transition to net zero — while a failure to do so may mean it becomes politically damaging in the future.

    Parties taking up the cause may too find their own dividends, as polling indicates growing public support for AC, which may increase as Britain gets hotter.

    • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      Probably not. You may just end up with conditions like where I live, >30° C in the summer and <-20° C in the winter. Now you need AC and better insulation.