We use cookies to improve your experience, some are essential for the operation of this site.

Short-circuiting the Ocean Conveyor

Short-circuiting the Ocean Conveyor
Short-circuiting the Ocean Conveyor
Short-circuiting the Ocean Conveyor
Short-circuiting the Ocean Conveyor
Comments (0)
596927
Cook, John E.
Short-circuiting the Ocean Conveyor
Illustration
01/01/2004
NorthwardTransport.jpg
Date is approximate.
Caption from Oceanus magazine, Vol. 42, No. 2, Pg. 97:
What factors caused the Northern Hemisphere to develop sea ice and glaciers about 3 million years ago? The closing of the Central American Seaway intensified the Gulf Stream, the upper limb of a conveyor-like global ocean circulation called the Ocean Conveyor. The Gulf Stream transported salt to the North Atlantic, making waters there dense enough to sink and drive the lower limb of the Conveyor. According to one theory, the Gulf Stream also transported moisture to the North Atlantic region and encouraged ice formation. But the Gulf Stream also conveys heat, which would deter glaciation. Neal Driscoll and Gerald Haug proposed a solution to this apparent contradiction (below).
Illustration by Jack Cook
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Labels
This item includes these files
Image
Image
Collections