Hi, Olivier I am happy to help you although a better place to ask the question is either
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk on Wikipedia
or
http://wikibooks.org/wiki/Study_help_desk on Wikibooks.
But just this once - The ocean current is called the North Atlantic Drift. It is a
continuation of the Gulf stream which is a huge current of warm water that flows from the
gulf of Mexico up to Europe. It warms the whole of Europe by several degrees, which is why
here in the UK we have a temperate climate rather than an arctic one. (get hold of an
atlas and follow the lines of latitude round, note which other countries are on the same
latitude as us and check out their climate).
The current sinks in several places north of Iceland because it is very salty (and
therefore dense). It then returns back to Mexico in a deep water current called the North
Atlantic deep water. The whole system forms a huge convection current, which pumps heat
from the equator to northern Europe.
There is evidence that in the past this system has shut down. There is some speculation
that global warming melting the ice caps may dilute the saltyness of the current and so
prevent it from sinking. If this happens there will be a massive cooling of the UK and the
whole of Northern Europe.
Theresa
-----Original Message-----
From: Olivia [mailto:OLIVIABUTTON12@hotmail.com]
Sent: 25 January 2004 19:40
To: wikien-l(a)wikipedia.org
Subject: [WikiEN-l] question about the atlantic ocean
hi, i need help on my geography homework, i was wondering if you could help?
''what is the name of the ocean current in the atlantic to the west of the uk? and
how does it affect our climate?
thank-you!
olivia
p.s please email me back on: oliviabutton12(a)hotmail.com