How does the Gulf Stream affect Greenland’s southwestern climate?

The Gulf Stream, as part of a broader system of North Atlantic currents, significantly influences the climate of southwestern Greenland. While the Gulf Stream itself flows toward northwestern Europe, its northeastward extension—the North Atlantic Current—contributes to the West Greenland Current via the Irminger Current.12

These warm North Atlantic waters help keep the west coast of Greenland free of ice, contrasting sharply with the ice-laden east coast. This maritime influence moderates the regional climate, contributing to the relatively milder conditions found in southwestern Greenland compared to more northern or continental polar regions. Consequently, this area experiences a maritime Arctic climate characterized by storminess, higher precipitation, and moderate winter temperatures that rarely drop to the extreme lows seen elsewhere in the Arctic.13