Hacker News Reader

- Accelerated ice melt - The Gulf Stream brings warm water near Greenland and Antarctica. Its weakening could disrupt this process, potentially speeding up ice sheet melt.

I don't understand this one. Why would the reduction in warm water brought to Greenland cause the ice sheets to melt more?

View on HN

had to think about this a bit. It doesn't directly affect it, but it adds to the problem of global warming by increasing the temp gradient between the higher elevation interior and the cooler, lower elevation coast. This can cause more wind and increased evaporation, and, effectively, "pull" the damp air away from the central ice sheets.

But that's just me speculating. It definitely seems counterintuitive.

Overall all the effects either make the ice caps colder or warmer. If it's colder that helps with melting ice caps. If it's warmer than that makes the north more pleasant.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com