Antarctic Ocean Currents at Risk of Collapse Due to Climate Change
TL;DR
Rapidly melting Antarctic ice is causing a dramatic slowdown in deep ocean currents, which could decline by 40% by 2050, reducing the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and prevent vital ocean nutrients reaching marine life. The deep-water flows which drive ocean currents carry vital heat, oxygen, carbon and nutrients around the globe. The effect of Antarctic meltwater on ocean currents has not yet been factored in to IPCC models on climate change, but it is going to be "considerable".
Topics:scienceenvironment#antarctic#carbon-dioxide#climate-change#deep-sea-ecosystems#environment#ocean-currents
- Antarctic ocean currents heading for collapse- report BBC
- Rising Antarctic ice melt will dramatically slow global ocean flows - study Yahoo News
- Deep ocean circulation near Antarctica on the brink of collapse Earth.com
- Crucial Antarctic ocean circulation heading for collapse if planet-warming pollution remains high, scientists warn CNN
- Melting Antarctic ice predicted to cause rapid slowdown of deep ocean current by 2050 The Guardian
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