here we go: Scientists Uncover Diversion of Gulf Stream Path in Late 2011

[xchrom]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121012122648.htm

Scientists Uncover Diversion of Gulf Stream Path in Late 2011; Warmer Waters Flowed to Shelfbreak South of New England

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The figures show the maximum sea surface temperatures for the periods (a) October 12–21, 2011, and (b) December 1–15, 2011. The coastline and shelfbreak are indicated by the thin black contours. The dashed black lines in (a) and (b) denote the climatological mean location of the Gulf Stream North Wall in October and December. In (a), the blue line denotes the path of a surface drifter released off Cape Fear, NC, on October 12, 2011, that was entrained in the Gulf Stream and reached Georges Bank 8 days later. The drifter's speed (blue) and course (red) are shown as functions of latitude in (c). In (a–b), the blue star indicates the location of the OOI test mooring, and the magenta squares denote the locations of the eMOLT observations. (Credit: Image courtesy Robert Todd, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution))

ScienceDaily (Oct. 12, 2012) — At a meeting with New England commercial fishermen last December, physical oceanographers Glen Gawarkiewicz and Al Plueddemann from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) were alerted by three fishermen about unusually high surface water temperatures and strong currents on the outer continental shelf south of New England.

"I promised them I would look into why that was happening," Gawarkiewicz says.
The result of his investigation was a discovery that the Gulf Stream diverged well to the north of its normal path beginning in late October 2011, causing the warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures along the New England continental shelf.

bette davis: seat belt, fasten, bumpy ride and all that

[patrice]

1. So, does that mean from there it can interfere with that other big important current from the North

Atlantic?

I'll go look up the name of that other current in a bit, but it's the one that comes down from Greenland, right? and if it changes, perhaps because of this movement north by the warmer Gulf Stream, that change will affect current patterns throughout the entire Atlantic Ocean???

[xchrom]

2. I'm guessing there is 'nothing new under the sun' but

Would it impact other stuff?

Yes.

Does it presage a real change to the current?

Well, Britain has certainly been experiencing different weather for them & that current impacts them quite a bit.

I guess they'll tell us if there is relationship.

I'd also say - timing is everything.
One of our warmest years & a change in the gulf stream.

[patrice]

3. +1google

[AverageJoe90]

4. Yeah, I'm not terribly concerned at the moment.

It is indeed possible that anthropogenic effects on the climate may have played a significant role in this, though, and I personally am of the opinion that there is a possibility that the Gulf Stream may, in fact, shift a little, within the next few decades. Not the end of the world but could have interesting effects on Western Europe, Ireland & Britain in particular.