The Beaufort Gyre is a massive wind-driven current in the Arctic Ocean, located north of Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory. The region has been regulating climate and sea ice formation at the top of the world for millennia. Recently, however, something has gone amiss. (Electroverse)
During the second half of the 20th century the gyre adhered to a cyclical pattern in which it would shift gears every five to seven years and temporarily spin in a counter-clockwise direction, expelling ice and freshwater into the eastern Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic. But for more than 17 years now, this carousel of ice and freshwater has been spinning faster in its usual clockwise direction, all the while collecting more and more freshwater from three sources: melting sea ice, runoff flowing into the Arctic Ocean from Russian and North American rivers, and the relatively fresh water streaming in from the Bering Sea.
As reported by e360.yale.edu: Today, the Beaufort Gyre now holds as much freshwater as all of the Great Lakes combined, and its continuing clockwise swirl is preventing this enormous volume of ice and cold-freshwater from flushing into the North Atlantic Ocean. Scientists say the gyre will inevitably weaken and reverse direction, and when it does it could expel a massive amount of icy fresh water into the North Atlantic.
Which spells disaster for the Gulf Stream, the warm currents that sweep past the British Isles and allow warm winds to blow across Europe.
Polar oceanographer Andrey Proshutinsky of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has labeled this anticipated surge of water a “ticking climate bomb,” noting that even a partial flush of that growing reservoir –a mere 5 percent– could temporarily cool the climate of Iceland and northern Europe. A larger outflow would actually threaten to shutdown the Gulf Stream, an event that would see ice age conditions sweep Northern and Western Europe almost overnight.
Just when they thought losing the Ukraine harvest was their biggest worry.
CAP ALLON is the best monitor of climate change BS out there. Please consider going to his site and buying him a coffee.
The COLD TIMES are returning, the mid-latitudes are REFREEZING in line with historically low solar activity, cloud-nucleating Cosmic Rays, and a meridional jet stream flow (among many other forcings, including the impending release of the Beaufort Gyre). Prepare accordingly — learn the facts, relocate if need be, and grow your own.
Update – September 2024
The Current State of the Beaufort Gyre and Its Potential Impacts
The Arctic’s Beaufort Gyre, a swirling mass of ocean current in the Canada Basin, has become a focal point for scientific interest due to its role in global ocean circulation and climate regulation. as you know, this gyre acts like a giant reservoir, storing vast amounts of freshwater under its surface.
What’s Happening with the Gyre?
Recent observations suggest that the Beaufort Gyre might be undergoing significant changes, particularly concerning its ability to hold onto this freshwater. The stability of this gyre is crucial because it acts as a barrier between the colder surface waters and the warmer, saltier waters below, known as the Atlantic Water.
Why Should We Care About Freshwater Loss?
Ocean Circulation Disruption: If the Beaufort Gyre were to release a significant amount of freshwater, it could disrupt the North Atlantic’s overturning circulation. This circulation is vital for distributing heat around the globe. A change here might lead to seriously colder temperatures in parts of Europe and North America, affecting everything from agriculture to heating demands. In short, it would create another Ice Age.
Ecosystem Shifts: The Arctic ecosystem is sensitive to changes in water temperature and salinity. A release of freshwater could alter the habitat for various species, potentially leading to shifts in species distribution, survival rates, and overall biodiversity.
Public Speculation on X
On platforms like X, there’s a mix of speculation and concern about what might happen if the Beaufort Gyre loses its grip on this freshwater. Discussions range from potential climate shifts to impacts on local wildlife, reflecting a growing public awareness of Arctic changes.
Looking Ahead
Scientists are closely monitoring the Beaufort Gyre using everything from satellite data to underwater robots to understand these changes better. The goal is to predict how these shifts might unfold and what they could mean for our planet. While the situation doesn’t spell immediate doom, it underscores the interconnectedness of global climate systems. Changes in the Arctic, far from most of us, could have repercussions worldwide.
The potential loss of freshwater from the Beaufort Gyre isn’t just an Arctic issue; it’s a global one.
So what do you think @SunWeatherMan? Is the Beaufort Gyre going to collapse? That would put an end to all the climate warming quackery. https://t.co/epZnv0rNfd
— Alan Fanning (@free_by_design) September 2, 2024