Risk of sea-change in the Atlantic

Europe is warmed by the North Atlantic Current, part of a system of warm and cool ocean currents that is driven by convective overturning at the northern end of the Atlantic. But human emissions of greenhouse gases could change temperature and rainfall patterns enough to stop this circulation, and so radically alter the regional climate. The rate of greenhouse-gas increase may be as important as the final concentrations reached.Europe is warmed by the North Atlantic Current, part of a system of warm and cool ocean currents that is driven by convective overturning at the northern end of the Atlantic. But human emissions of greenhouse gases could change temperature and rainfall patterns enough to stop this circulation, and so radically alter the regional climate. The rate of greenhouse-gas increase may be as important as the final concentrations reached.