Antarctic Current Slowdown Predicted by 2050 Due to Climate Change

Scientists predict a 20% slowdown of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) by 2050 due to climate change. The ACC, a vital component of the global ocean conveyor belt, transports 173 million cubic meters of water per second. Melting ice sheets introduce fresh water, disrupting the current's salinity balance. This weakening could trigger rapid ice melt, sea-level rise, and accelerated global warming by reducing the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon. The ACC is driven by cold, salty water sinking and carrying oxygen and CO2, but increased freshwater input disrupts this process. Modeling using supercomputers indicates that ice melt alone will cause the predicted slowdown, impacting climate patterns globally.