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Global Conveyer Belt

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34 views4 pages

Global Conveyer Belt

Uploaded by

smind8663
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GLOBAL CONVEYER BELT

“The global ocean conveyor belt is a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation
driven by temperature and salinity. It is a system of interconnected ocean currents that circulate
water around the world's oceans. It plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate by
redistributing heat, nutrients, and other properties throughout the global ocean system”.

Overview:
The term “global conveyor belt” was coined by climate scientist Wallace Smith Broecker. In
the 1980s, the American climate scientist Wallace Broecker suggested that the global ocean
circulation could be viewed as analogous to a conveyor belt that moved heat and salt around
the planet. Broecker’s schematic picture has become one of the iconic images of climate
science.

Figure 1 A schematic of the great ocean conveyor that moves both heat and salt around the
planet.

The global conveyor belt is a system of ocean currents that transport water around the world.
While wind primarily propels surface currents, deep currents are driven by differences in water
densities in a process called thermohaline circulation. Density depends on both the temperature
(thermo) and salinity (haline) of the water. As it transports heat, the global conveyor belt keeps
Earth’s climate stable. However, scientists have recently noticed a slowdown in ocean
circulation. With climate change and rising temperatures, the process may slow down even
more and bring extreme temperatures to different regions around the world.
Ocean Water Flow
The movement of ocean water within the global conveyor belt follows the following pattern:
Surface Water Movement: Warm water from the equator moves towards higher latitudes
along surface currents. The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across
the Atlantic Ocean towards the North Atlantic, influencing the climate of these regions.
Downwelling: As surface water moves towards higher latitudes, it gradually loses heat to the
atmosphere, becoming denser. In regions of high latitude, such as the North Atlantic, the dense,
cold water sinks to deeper layers of the ocean through a process called downwelling.
Deep Ocean Currents: Deep ocean currents transport cold, dense water from high latitudes
towards lower latitudes and back. The dense, cold water that sinks in regions like the North
Atlantic forms part of the deep ocean currents. These deep ocean currents flow towards the
equator along the ocean floor. For instance, North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) flows
southward towards the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW): This dense, cold
water mass forms around Antarctica and flows northward along the ocean floor, filling the
deepest parts of the global ocean basins.
Upwelling: Upwelling is the process by which deep, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface.
For example, along the western coast of continents, winds and coastal geometry cause deep
water to up well, bringing nutrients from the ocean depths to the surface. California Current
along the western coast of North America, winds and coastal geography promote the upwelling
of deep water, bringing nutrients to the surface and supporting productive marine ecosystems.
Benguela Current off the western coast of southern Africa, winds drive upwelling of deep
water, contributing to the richness of marine life in the region.
Upwelling brings nutrient-rich water to the ocean surface, fueling the growth of phytoplankton
and supporting diverse marine life. Upwelling zones are biodiversity hotspots and important
fishing grounds, providing economic benefits to coastal communities. Upwelling is crucial for
marine ecosystems, fisheries, and climate regulation.

Driving force of Global Ocean currents Circulation:


These factors determine the density of seawater, which in turn governs its vertical movement
within the ocean.
Temperature: Variations in temperature play a significant role in driving the ocean conveyor
belt. Cold water is denser than warm water, so regions of the ocean where surface waters
become cold enough to sink, such as in polar regions, contribute to the formation of dense
water masses that drive deep ocean currents.
Salinity: Salinity also affects water density. High salinity increases water density, making it
more likely to sink. Areas of high evaporation or low precipitation, such as subtropical regions,
tend to have higher salinity and can contribute to the formation of dense water masses.
Surface Winds: Surface winds influence the movement and distribution of surface currents,
which can indirectly impact the ocean conveyor belt by redistributing heat and surface waters.
Winds blowing consistently in one direction, such as the trade winds in the tropics, can drive
surface currents that help transport warm water towards higher latitudes.
Coastal Topography: Coastal features, such as underwater ridges, canyons, and shelves, can
influence the path and intensity of ocean currents. These features can channel or disrupt the
flow of water, affecting the distribution of heat and nutrients and potentially impacting the
ocean conveyor belt.

Role in Regulating Climatic Condition:


The ocean conveyor belt plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate through various
mechanisms:
Redistribution of Heat: The ocean conveyor belt helps distribute heat from the equator
towards higher latitudes and from the surface to deeper ocean layers. Warm surface currents
carry heat from tropical regions towards the poles, moderating temperatures in higher latitudes.
Conversely, cold, deep ocean currents transport heat towards the equator, contributing to the
redistribution of heat across the globe. By redistributing heat, the ocean conveyor belt helps
moderate climate extremes in different regions. For example, regions located along the paths
of warm ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, experience milder
winters and cooler summers compared to regions at similar latitudes without the influence of
these currents.
Weather Patterns: Ocean currents influenced by the conveyor belt system can also impact
weather patterns. For instance, warm ocean currents can fuel the development of storms and
hurricanes, influencing weather systems along coastal areas.
Carbon Sequestration: The ocean conveyor belt plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle
by transporting carbon dioxide (CO2) between the atmosphere and the ocean. Surface waters
absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, and this carbon is transported to deeper ocean layers through
the conveyor belt. Some of this carbon is stored in the deep ocean for long periods, contributing
to the regulation of atmospheric CO2 levels and helping to mitigate climate change.

Disruptions in the ocean conveyor belt and its effect.


Effects of Climate Change:
The global conveyor belt is a strong, but easily disrupted process. Research suggests that the
conveyor belt may be affected by climate change. If global warming results in increased rainfall
in the North Atlantic, and the melting of glaciers and sea ice, the influx of warm freshwater
onto the sea surface could block the formation of sea ice, disrupting the sinking of cold, salty
water. This sequence of events could slow or even stop the conveyor belt, which could result
in potentially drastic temperature changes in Europe.
Effects:
The disruption of the ocean conveyor belt can lead to:

 Changes in global and regional climate patterns, including shifts in temperature,


precipitation, and extreme weather events.
 Sea level rise due to alterations in ocean circulation and melting of polar ice sheets.
 Impacts on marine ecosystems and biodiversity, affecting fish stocks, habitats, and
ocean productivity.
 Economic consequences for coastal communities and industries dependent on marine
resources.

References:
What is the global ocean conveyor belt? (noaa.gov)
Environment: understanding atmospheric and ocean flows: 4.1 Wally Broecker’s great ocean
conveyor belt | Open Learn - Open University
The Global Conveyor Belt (nationalgeographic.org)
Global Ocean Conveyor Belt | Climate Central
Effects of Climate Change - Currents: NOAA's National Ocean Service Education

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