Global Cooling
The Gulf Stream is a major ocean current, which transports hot surface water from the tropics to Northern Europe. Here the heat is deposited. The now cooler water sinks downwards and returns to the tropics. Due to the rotation of the ocean water, the Gulf Stream is often referred to as the 'ocean conveyer'.
Tell me about the Gulf Stream
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8) Global Cooling
Tropics
Northern Europe
In the 'sinking zone', the ocean water is cooled and its density increases. The level of salt in the water determines the density and how quickly the water sinks downwards.
How does the water sink?
As global warming is melting the Greenland icecap, vast amounts of fresh water flow into the salty ocean water. This reduces the salinity of the water and impacts its ability to 'sink'. Greenland contains sufficient fresh water to completely halt the conveyer.
How do you stop the 'conveyer'?
The Gulf stream contributes about 3°C to annual European temperatures. A drop of 3°C would reduce the growing season with about 2.5 months in the UK, impacting food production and public health as the earth would remain frozen well into April.
And if the 'conveyer' stops?
The Gulf Stream
