Costal regions are not the only areas that will be affected by changing oceans; even places as far from the sea as central Europe will be influenced by changing oceans. European climates tend to be milder than regions of the same latitude in other areas of the world. Naples, Italy has an average temperature of 16°C, whereas New York City has an average temperature of 12°C. Berlin's January temperatures average around 8°C higher than Calgary, Canada and 22°C higher than Irkutsk, Russia.

Challenge: What role do the oceans play in the mild climate of Western and Central Europe?

Left: Agriculture in Europe is one sector of the economy that may benefit from the coming climate changes.
Right: Warm (red) waters from the Gulf of Mexico flow into the North Atlantic, causing mild temperatures in Western Europe.

The Gulf Stream influences Europe's climate. Waters warmed in the Atlantic's Gulf of Mexico travel northwards following the Thermohaline Circulation. The Gulf Stream not only warms the waters on the west coast of Europe, but also warms the prevailing westerly winds which travel all across the continent.

As Arctic waters continue to freshen from melting ice caps, deep water production is in jeopardy, because proper oceanic overturning relies on differences in salinity and temperature. Freshening waters do not tend to form deep waters as they are less dense than saline waters.

If the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt is altered, it will impact the amount of heat westerly winds transport across Europe; changes in air temperature will lead to changes in evaporation and precipitation patterns, ultimately affecting the way of life for millions of European people.