The Slowing Gulf Stream? A science-policy breakfast discussion: Presentations

The slowing Gulf Stream? 

A science-policy breakfast discussion was held on 4 September 2018 (8am-10am) at the European Parliament Brussels, ASP 5G1. These are the presentations given at the science-policy discussion.

This policy brief produced in support of the SEARICA Science-Policy breakfast discussion on the Slowing Gulf Stream can be downloaded here: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1408097

Short summary: Is the Gulf Stream slowing down? And if it does, what will be the consequences? And how should we prepare for them?
Researchers have recently confirmed that the Gulf Stream current is running at a slower rate than it has done for over 1000 years. The Gulf Stream, as a part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, transports warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic Ocean, and plays a major role in regulating Europe’s weather and climate. Now, there is speculation that the AMOC could slow even more, or shut down, as the global climate continues to change. This could have important consequences for our weather and climate, potentially increasing the risk of extreme weather such as storms and heatwaves.
To predict and prepare for changes to Europe’s weather and climate, it is important that we understand how changes in the ocean and changes in climate are linked. This is especially true in the Arctic, which is changing faster than any other place on earth. With this understanding, researchers hope to be able to quantify the risk of extreme weather events in the future, and develop early-warning indicators.
The SEARICA Intergroup, along with scientists from the EU-funded Blue-Action project and their collaborators, AtlantOS, are hosting a discussion event to explore the impacts of Atlantic Ocean circulation on weather and climate. The Blue-Action project aims to better understand and explain the impact of changes in the Arctic on the weather and climate of the Northern Hemisphere. AtlantOS, meanwhile, is paving the way for a pan-Atlantic Ocean observing system, to collect the data we need to better understand and manage this ocean basin.

About Blue-Action: Blue-Action aims to improve our ability to describe, model, and predict Arctic climate change and its impact on Northern Hemisphere climate, weather, and their extremes, and to deliver valuated climate services of societal benefit. Blue-Action contributes to the implementation of the Trans-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, to the EU’s Blue Growth Agenda, and to a long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. Blue-Action supports the implementation of the Galway and the Belem Statements and the achievement of UN SDG 8, 9, 13.