Deep Ocean Current Collapse Threatens Climate and Nutrient Supply
Antarctic currents that provide oxygen and nutrients to 40% of Earth's deep ocean have slowed dangerously in recent decades and could collapse by mid-century due to climate change, according to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The slowdown in deep water currents around Antarctica could lead to the collapse of the Southern Ocean overturning circulation, which connects various water basins in a global circulation system. The collapse of this vital deep ocean current could have severe consequences for marine life, climate, and sea level.