North Atlantic Ocean is world's 'climate superpower'

London, Feb 18 (ANI): New studies have shown that the North Atlantic Ocean is definitely the 'climate superpower' of the world, with its ability to control global weather systems.

In past studies, Anastasios Tsonis and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have shown statistically that climate features like El Nino and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), which drives weather across Europe, become synchronised for a few decades, before the links abruptly break down and a new pattern emerges.

They call it "synchronised chaos".

Now, according to a report in New Scientist, their modelling studies have shown the action is always driven from the North Atlantic Ocean (NAO).

Tsonis said that the NAO is "without exception the common ingredient... the pacemaker of major climate shifts."

The region also happens to be especially sensitive to the effects of climate change, so what is happening there could affect the world.

The findings may be seized on by deniers of man-made climate change as evidence of the scale of natural climate variability.

Tsonis argued two years ago that accelerated global warming since the 1970s could be due partly to a natural climate shift.

But, the findings will leave most climate scientists more worried.

Today's climate is changing most dramatically in the far North Atlantic, with record warming and ice loss in recent years.

If the climate's "tipping point" resides in these waters, then nature's synchronised chaos could unleash unexpectedly sudden and severe consequences.

If the climate's tipping point resides in these waters, there could be severe consequences. (ANI)