CHAP. IX 



MILD ARCTIC CLIMATES 



19: 



With these astounding facts before us, due wholly to the 

 transference of a portion of the warm currents of the 

 Atlantic to the shores of Europe, even with all the disad- 

 vantages of an icy sea to the north-east and ice-covered 

 Greenland to the north-west, how can we doubt the enor- 

 mously greater eifect of such a condition of things as has 

 been shown to have existed during the Tertiary epoch ? 

 Instead of one great stream of warm water spreading widely 

 over the North Atlantic and thus losing the greater part 

 of its store of heat hcfore it reaches the Arctic seas, we 

 should have several streams conveying the heat of far more 

 extensive tropical oceans by comparatively narrow inland 

 channels, thus being able to transfer a large proportion of 

 their heat into the northern and Arctic seas. The heat 

 that they gave out during the passage, instead of being 

 widely dispersed by winds and much of it lost in the higher 

 atmosphere, would directly ameliorate the climate of the 

 continents they passed through, and prevent all accumu- 

 lation of snow except on the loftiest mountains. The 

 formation of ice in the Arctic seas would then be impos- 

 sible ; and the mild winter climate of the latitude of North 



summarizes these results is taken from his Lectures on Physical Gcograpluj 

 (p. 344) :- 



It is interesting to note that Iceland, which is now exposed to the full 

 influence of the Gulf Stream, was only 12°"6 F. warmer in Miocene times, 

 while Itlackenzie River, now totally removed from its influence was 

 28" warmer. This, as well as the gi-eater increase of temperature as we 

 go northward and the polar area becomes more limited, is quite in accord- 

 ance with the view of the causes which brought about the Miocene climate 

 which is here advocated. 



