Reykjavik, Iceland warmer than Atlanta, Georgia.

[Elwood P Dowd]

Located a few hundred miles from the Arctic Circle, it's the northern-most capital of any European country. On Monday, it will be warmer there than in Atlanta and dozens of other cities in the Southern part of the USA. I realize the Gulfstream keeps that country somewhat moderate, but 48 degrees and rain that close to the Arctic Circle?

http://www.wunderground.com/US/GA/Atlanta.html

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/04030.html

[quiet.american]

1. I can believe it. It was freezing in Atlanta last week. n/t

[Kagemusha]

2. Yeah, the Gulfstream can do that to Iceland.

And if it's a particularly cold time in Atlanta, you'll get results like this.

You got results like this in the past even.

[GreenCommie]

3. Different climates

Maritime vs. Continental.

The water has a warming effect. That, plus the gulf stream makes the climate warmer than places at similar latitudes. (Avg Jan temps are warmer than NYC further south.)

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. Isn't Iceland having trouble opening ski slopes because of warm weather

and lack of snow? Thought I read that somewhere.

[GreenCommie]

5. That is happening in many places

Switzerland, especially. That is mainly due to global warming.

The maritime vs. continental difference is responsible for extremely cold Siberian winters, yet temperate European climates of similar latitude, or even western coastal US temps vs plain states.

This should help with the differences between maritime and continental climates.

[nealmhughes]

6. Yep, it's the difference between Anchorage, say and a similar latitude inland.

The Maritime Moderation is what keeps the Atlantic Isalnds not frozen wastelands half the year -- take a look at the globe and see how far, say Glasgow is!

[Elwood P Dowd]

7. I understand all that stuff

but many of these countries are warming up at an alarming rate. Now what happens when the Arctic starts melting even faster than it is today? If the Gulf Stream is disrupted by global warming, what will happen to Iceland, Greenland, Ireland, UK, etc.?

[nealmhughes]

8. It will be frozen over half the year, like interior Alaska.

The melting fresh water (ice) from the ice cap at the poles will decrease the salinity of the oceans and the driving force for the Gulf Stream will not function as the "heat sink" for the world.
Thus, northern maritime climates will be more or less subject to their latitudes and not moderated by the seas' warmth. In other words, the Thames may ice over at London, and one might be able to walk from Germany to Sweden over the Baltic Ice.
That is worst case, of course.
I saw this two days ago on a global warming/ice cap melting show on a educational channel that my students recommended. College freshmen are really up on this stuff.