It might soon be time for a revision of Pilot Charts. NatGeo tells us:
Europe and North America may soon experience chillier temperatures, thanks to natural North Atlantic variations that could temporarily mask the effects of human-driven, or anthropogenic, climate change.
“We believe that ocean currents and systems could, in the short term, change global warming patterns and even mean temperatures,” said Noel Keenlyside of the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences in Kiel, Germany.
Keenlyside explained that since record keeping began in the 19th century, the North Atlantic climate has changed in natural cycles that last a decade or more.
These shifts are likely associated, at least in part, with natural variations in ocean currents.
Read the full article HERE.
Tags: · currents, Environment, ocean_currents
We have taken a look at ways to harness the ocean’s immense power before but this alternative energy solutions is slightly different. Using subsea moorings and 100′ diameter turbines this solution targets Gulf Stream currents to produce power. Inhabitat.com tells us;
The idea is to have underwater turbines placed right in the middle of the Gulf Stream current. The turbines are designed to be about 100 feet in diameter. These will be connected to a buoy that holds the electricity generating equipment. The gulf stream carries billions of gallons per minute, so the impact of these turbines would be minimal if negligible to the current itself.
Look for the first prototype to be launched by Dania Beach Florida based Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology in the first quarter of 2008.
(You can find related multimedia HERE)
Prototype Subsea Ocean Current Turbine - Animation [0:24m]:
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Tags: · alternative_energy_solutions, currents, dania_beach_florida, electricity, energy_technology, Environment, gulf_stream, immense_power, Marine Technology, moorings, ocean_energy, prototype, related_multimedia, subsea, turbines, Uncategorized, Video
