How does the Gulf Stream affect Denmark’s climate?

The terminal section of the warm Gulf Stream, known as the North Atlantic Current, plays a significant role in moderating Denmark’s climate.1

By transporting heat from the tropics toward the North Atlantic, this current helps maintain milder temperatures than would otherwise be expected for Denmark's latitude. Specifically, the combination of this warm ocean current and prevailing westerly winds keeps the mean temperature in February—the coldest month—at approximately 32 °F (0 °C), which is roughly 12 °F (7 °C) higher than the worldwide average for that latitude.123

Without the influence of this current, Denmark’s climate would be significantly cooler and potentially drier, which would likely alter the region's ecosystems and the types of plants and animals found there.2