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Gulf Stream could be threatened by Arctic flush
Posted by New Scientist: Fred Pearce on April 5th, 2011
New Scientist: Rapid warming in the Arctic is creating a new and fast-growing pool of fresh water in the Arctic Ocean. Measuring at least 7500 cubic kilometres, it could flush into the Atlantic Ocean and slow the Gulf Stream, bringing colder winters to Europe.
The water is mostly coming from melting permafrost and rising rainfall, which is increasing flows in Siberian rivers that drain into the Arctic, such as the Ob and Yenisei. More comes from melting sea ice, says Laura de Steur of the Royal Netherlands Institute...
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Ecologists desert Cancún’s sinking ship
Posted by New Scientist: Fred Pearce on December 8th, 2010
New Scientist: THE chances of a legally binding deal to tackle climate change are looking increasingly slim as the negotiations in Cancún, Mexico, enter their final days. So much so that even environmentalists are deserting the sinking ship.
The only half-way successful negotiations in Cancún to date have been on REDD, short for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The idea is that governments pay tropical nations to curb deforestation, and so keep the carbon stored in trees out of...