Is the gulf stream about to shut down in the north atlantic?

Question

we have been warned about this for years, if enough cold water enters the north atlantic, the gulf stream will shut off and cause temperatures to drop by up to 10c in britain and europe. this will result in ice age conditions, causing food shortages and a shift in the thermal equator changing the worlds rainfall patterns, resulting in mass famine in already 3rd world countries. what worries me is the recent news of greenland being ice free this summer, this is that extra cold water im talking about guys. and this thing usually flows fine for 1000s of years. the last time when it just slowed down actually resulted in the little ice age when frost fairs where held on the river thames in London, it never actually stopped. however it has stopped 3 times in the last 3 years. I hate to be a doomsdayer but I have researched this very heavily and im afraid it doesnt look good. why is the goverment not telling us or even mentioning this, its a serious threat to mankind. high fuel & food prices?

Answer 1

No its not going to happen anytime soon. Don't believe in anything seen in movies.

EDIT- after thinking  about the North Atlantic Current, is what mainly controls the weather and climate of Europe not the GS.  Whether or not the NAC is slowing down is yet to be proven, and doing so will require more technology to see if this has effect with global warming.  The GS flows into the NAC.  

For more info on the NAC visit http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atl...

Even though this is from Wikipedia which I do not use but I find this map useful and easy to understand for you.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

Answer 2

Well hopefully we have hundreds of years to wait for that. But if it does we are doomed.

Answer 3

Hi

That's a real concern (to most people anyway) but I agree with him up there Maxi p.

Ray. West York's. U.K.

Answer 4

I don't think that the Government actually looks at the bigger picture. Its just soundbites and charge more for 4x4s and that kind of thing.

Answer 5

if it were about to shut down we would be having alot worse weather and alot more rain in the south east then what we got now.  changes like that take alot longer than anything humans can put out.