A massive build up of plastic debris in the North Atlantic Ocean has been identified as the probable reason for the rapid drop in temperatures which have brought increasingly cold winters and wet summers to Britain in the last few years. The exceptionally heavy snow which has fallen across parts of the country in the last 24 hours may also have been caused by it.
Small pieces of plastic rubbish - mostly plastic carrier bags and packaging - have been accumulating on the surface of
the Atlantic between 22 and 38 degrees north, increasing its albedo, which means more light and heat is reflected back into outer space instead of being absorbed. This is causing falling temperatures, and changes to the circulation of weather systems.
Climatologists say the data overwhelmingly shows that if the problem remains unchecked a mini ice age will become established with temperatures in Britain plunging to -35C. Parts of France and Germany may become perma frost, and glaciers in the Alps will grow rapidly. Bizarrely, the resulting changes in the atmospheric circulation will mean Greenland becomes much warmer, and may well become a prized summer holiday destination for Europeans who are determined to escape cold and wet summers, and arctic winters.
Suggestions that the data has been doctored to exaggerate the amount of cooling have been dismissed as outrageous!
Scientists are urgently looking at ways to tackle the problem. The most promising idea being explored is called the ‘chessboard solution’. This depends on all new plastic bags and packaging being dyed black. Over time this would make its way into the environment as rubbish, and it is thought the Atlantic Ocean would become covered with alternating black and white patches, making it look like a chessboard and causing the albedo to fall, and temperatures to rise and then level out as a balance is reached. Leading scientists have called for more money from the government to research the problem further. We’ll have further updates soon, but for now do your best to stay warm.
Topic: Freezing winters caused by plastic bags (Read 3108 times)
