DERRY JOURNAL Editorial: Another chilling climate warning as Hallowe'en approaches

​Scientists have again warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences of Gulf Stream breakdown over the decades to come.

Put simply, the risk of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation – the Gulf Stream is an integral part – has been seriously underestimated and there is a chance it could collapse this century.

The Gulf Stream is the major ocean current that keeps Derry and Donegal warm.

If it veers off course, as scientists fear it might under current climate trajectories, a ‘cold blob’ that has already developed over the subpolar Atlantic will spread south and annual mean temperatures in Derry and Donegal will fall by up to -2.4.

Moreover, while Ireland will experience plummeting temperatures near neighbours in Europe could see rises of up to 2.4°C.

This would leave us on the front line of an extreme new weather frontier that would precipitate chaotic climatic conditions and some scientists think the AMOC could disintegrate anytime between 2025 and 2100.

Scientists believe such a scenario would threaten the viability of agriculture in north-western Europe.

This is not an intangible. It could occur right here in a few generations.

Thankfully most accept the science and agree urgent action is needed.

However, our anglophone culture and social media consumption make us especially susceptible to the daft anti-science conspiracies frothing in the US online sphere, where climate denial is strong.

'Cold blob' caused by climate change weakening Gulf Stream with potentially dire consequences for Derry and Donegal climate