According to scientists, the Gulf Stream, a massive ocean current in the Atlantic gives off heat equivalent to about one million power stations....but it could be about be about to break down due to global warming.

Did you know that Madrid is on roughly the same latitude as New York? Ever wondered why it has such a balmy climate compared to NYC over on the other side of the Atlantic?

Madrid, indeed most of Western Europe has vastly higher average temperatures than many countries of a similar latitude because the Gulf Stream channels warm sea water up from the equator towards Europe. This warm water warms the air and elevates the temperature around it so that New York's icy winters of weeks and weeks of snow are an alien concept in Spain, much of France and the UK.

But all this is set to change; scientists have released some worrying findings today that indicate that the Gulf Stream is weakening by a staggering 30%. Less warm current could mean that millions of people will have to adjust to lower temperatures in coming years.

This BBC article has more:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4485840.stm