Ocean Current Changes
Ocean currents, and the Atlantic Meridional Ocean Circulation (AMOC) in particular, are responsible for transferring huge quantities of heat around the planet. Climate models suggest that a warming climate, by affecting water flows and salinity patterns in the Atlantic, could slow the AMOC and significantly reduce the amount of heat being moved to Europe. This phenomenon, although not related to climate change, is what is blamed for the Little Ice Age that chilled Europe hundreds of years ago.
Measurements have suggested that the AMOC may have already slowed slightly, but considerable uncertainty remains. The following extract (from a 2013 National Research Council report on Abrupt Climate Change) provides more insight:
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