Past climate change ‘shifts ocean currents and winds in Southern Ocean’
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Human-induced climate change is causing shifts in the world’s largest ocean current and westerly wind systems also seen during periods of ice age and warmer intervals in Earth’s history, researchers claim. Their study highlighted the role of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) in regulating dynamics in the Southern Ocean and global climate patterns over the past 1.5 million years.
The international team, led by Cardiff University researchers, showed how southern migration of the westerly winds and the ACC towards the pole during periods of past global warming increased the amount of natural carbon released to the atmosphere by the Southern Ocean.
The team warned that human-induced climate change has brought about a similar process, which is underway today and likely to continue under global warming without appropriate climate action. Their findings offer vital insights into how heat, salt, and carbon-rich waters flow, filling a critical gap in the understanding of ocean circulation and its relationship with past and future global climate changes.
“Our study highlights the complex interplay between ocean currents and climate patterns,” said lead author Dr Aidan Starr. “As our planet continues to warm, comprehending these patterns is essential for predicting future changes in ocean dynamics and climate systems.”.
