With the melting of antarctic ice, the antarctic circuit current is slowing down, which may have a domino effect on all oceans.
A new one published in the magazine Environmental Research Letters revealed that the fusion of antarctic ice is Significantly slow the ocean current Most powerful in the world, Antarctic Circuit Current (ACC).
The investigation warns that this slowdown be able to reach 20% By 2050, with potential impact on ocean global temperatures, rising the level of the Antarctic sea and ecosystem, explains the.
The ACC, which moves about billion liters of water per second In a movement towards the clock pointers around Antarctica, it plays a key role in global oceanic circulation. This current prevents hot waters from reaching the antarctic ice cloak and connects the main oceanic basins, facilitating heat exchange. However, climate change caused a Antarctic ice accelerated meltingleading to a cold and cold fusion water influx to the Antarctic Ocean.
The investigation team used Australia’s fastest supercomputer to model interactions between melted ice and ocean. Its findings indicate that fresh melting water Dilute the surrounding sea waterdisturbing the convection between the superficial and deep waters near the ice cloak. Over time, this process can Heat the deepest parts of the Antarctic Oceanweaken the current and allow hot water to reach the antarctic ice cloak, further accelerating the defrost and rising sea level.
In addition to environmental impacts, ACC Acts as a natural barrier against invasive species, preventing non -native plants and animals from reaching Antarctica. A weaker current can reduce this protective effect, allowing species to migrate faster to the continent, which may have unpredictable consequences for the fragile antarctic ecosystem.
Although scientists recognize that it is difficult to predict exactly when these changes will become totally visible, it is accurate a long -term surveillance of the ACC. How the current is located in a remote part of the worldtheir historical data is limited. However, investigators warn that the effects of the slowdown probably extend beyond antarcecida, influencing global ocean circulation patterns.
“This is where the heart of the ocean is located”Warns Bishakhdatta Gayen, a University of Melbourne fluid mechanistic and the main author of the study.” If something stopping here or changing significantly, it will have an impact on all ocean systems on the planet. “
