North Atlantic Water Temperatures Setting All-Time Winter Records - Reuters

[hatrack]

EDIT

The world's oceans are already in a warming trend that could alter fish stocks, perhaps damaging coral reefs that are vital nurseries for tropical species while boosting northern stocks of cod or herring. "The global oceans have been warming since the middle 1970s and several studies have shown that the warming can be attributed to a human-produced signal," said James Hurrell of the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research.

Off New York this week, rescuers guided eight dolphins into open water after they became stranded in a shallow cove, apparently because unusually warm waters meant fish on which they feed were staying closer to the coast. A type of Black Sea jellyfish seems to have become established off Scandinavia, perhaps flushed out of the ballast tanks of visiting ships and now able to survive because of less chilly waters in winter.

Norway's Institute of Marine Research said 18 tropical swordfish had been seen off Norway since 1967 and sightings were becoming more frequent. Four were spotted in 2006 alone, including a 22kg specimen caught on November 14. "There have been many record high temperatures in recent months," said Jan Aure, a researcher at the Institute. "The climate regimes are changing and moving northwards." In Lista by the North Sea, for example, water temperatures were a record 8.5C, 2-3 degrees above normal for January.

In recent years, salmon have been seen swimming north of the Bering Straits between Russia and Alaska, and jellyfish plagued Mediterranean beaches in 2006. Over-fishing and destruction of habitats is also disrupting marine life.

EDIT

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21089133-1702,00.html

[kestrel91316]

1. Nothing unusual here. Happens all the time.

:sarcasm:

[Dogmudgeon]

2. SST temperatures and anomalies through January 10th

It shows a fairly strong but quickly weakening ENSO and the developing warm-water SST anomaly off the Jersey coast. There's also a warm-water episode getting started in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This is a very good pattern for strong east-coast snowstorms.

The picture may update in a day or two to show the change through January 17th -- I don't watch the page consistently.

--p!

[phantom power]

3. This is going to suck.

It's going to suck a golfball thru a garden hose. It's going to suck the chrome off a trailer hitch.

[Porcupine]

4. C'mon everybody likes hot tubbing don't they?

Well pretty soon you'll be able to go hot tubbing off Coney Island in April. With 95 degree water and everything.

No waiting.

[Dead_Parrot]

5. As an added bonus...

...Melting hydrates will give it that jacuzzi touch. Grab a Martini and relax.

[bananas]

6. During the Reagan administration I found the perfect hill-top spot

to watch the ICBM's fall on San Diego. If you're not going to survive, might as well get a good view!
:toast:

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Not to mention a really good tan

None of that orange spray stuff. B-)

[hatrack]

8. But what will this do to the global zinc oxide market?

Frankly, I'm very concerned about this vital market sector! :silly:

[Dead_Parrot]

9. It'll be fine

bolstered by Nivea's new "Le Soleil Nucléaire" SPF 10,000,000 sun-block, which is nothing but pulverized lead and zinc oxide applied in a layer 40 feet thick.

Selling very well in Iran, for some reason.

[Javaman]

10. So the atlantic gets warmer, the green land ice melts and dumps cold water,

then the conveyor stops.

conveyor stops, ice caps form.

but will the ice caps form if we are having rapid global warming?

There in is the rub.