Scientists sound alarm over little-known threat emerging from Antarctica: 'Acting like a giant conveyor belt'
Yahoo••science
Key Points:
- Researchers from the University of Queensland found that accelerating ice-shelf melting and decreasing sea-ice formation in Antarctica reduce the production of dense shelf water, which is crucial for driving global ocean currents and climate regulation.
- A shutdown in sea ice formation could decrease dense shelf water by up to 36%, weakening deep ocean circulation that influences weather patterns and global climate systems.
- Real-world data shows a 12% decline in the northward flow of Antarctic bottom water from 2000 to 2020, alongside a 13% per decade loss of Arctic sea ice, both contributing fresh water that disrupts ocean salinity and circulation.
- These changes threaten marine biodiversity by limiting oxygen and nutrient movement in deep oceans and destabilizing ecosystems,
