"We are witnessing a true reversal of ocean circulation in the Southern Hemisphere—something we’ve never seen before,” explains Antonio Turiel, ICM-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study. “While the world is debating the potential collapse of the AMOC in the North Atlantic, we’re seeing that the SMOC is not just weakening, but has reversed. This could have unprecedented global climate impacts.”
In the long term, this process could double current atmospheric CO₂ concentrations by releasing carbon that has been stored in the deep ocean for centuries
Cool, cool cool cool.
We’re fucked.
Earth’s fine, we’re fucked.
Can we get lucky just this once and this new ocean circulation cancels out global warming?
“Early reports indicate that a vortex has emerged as a result of the reversal which is drawing in carbon dioxide, microplastics, PFAS, and, inexplicably, members of the Trump administration.”
Damn keep going I almost jizzed
Nope.
That is, instead of sinking into the depths, surface water is being replaced by deep water masses rising to the surface, bringing with them heat and carbon dioxide (CO₂) that had been trapped for centuries.
I had to look up that last part, as it seemed counter-intuitive, but apparently deep ocean water bottoms out at 4 degrees C.
4° is as dense as water gets. After that it starts expanding as it turns into ice. Which is how ice floats. It’s one of those miracles of nature. If ice sank things would be very different.
Can you expand on that or ELI5?
If the crystalline structure of water did not expand from it’s liquid phase (thus lowering it’s density) when it freezes, then ice would not float. Ice would sink trapping everything below it. It’s theorized that this little fact means life likely couldn’t exist if ice didn’t behave this way.
I had to look up that last part, as it seemed counter-intuitive, but apparently deep ocean water bottoms out at 4 degrees C.
Right, but I still wouldn’t call water that is 4 degrees C as warm. How is deep water warm?
That was my physics teacher.
“So materials shrink as they get colder.”
“Ma’am, doesn’t ice expand?”
“We don’t talk about that.”
Ahhahahaha, no, just the opposite
Imagine… this is the earth’s response. A defensive reaction to a climate imbalance. Solving all climate issues. Would have a crazy new respect for the planet.
Planet is already on like a 5000 scale for me. This would add another zero, maybe 2.
Earth don’t give a fuck. It’s been hot. It’s been cold. It’s been filled with poisonous gasses. It might be any of those things again. Earth could care less about us and is probably about to show us where we stand.
Earth is not even fucking sentient, it’s not even fucking alive, that’s how much it doesn’t give a fuck about anything.
Hey I’ve seen this movie!
Woody Harrelson tried to warn us.
Wait what movie are you talking about? Twinkies and zombies?
You don’t remember the crazy end times truther living in his RV?
I mean, I understand if you don’t. 2012 is not peak cinema.
Oh yeah I didn’t think about that one. 2012 was a fun bad movie. Some of Emrich’s best. And based off an extraordinarily weird book by a guy Einstein thought was a genius.
We’ll just push forward. If the current is reversing we can just get it going in the opposite direction and all should be well. /s
Spinning backwards worked in Superman!
That’s not what happened. He went fast enough to go back in time. The Earth rotated backwards because time was going backwards for him. And importantly, unlike so many time travel stories where the person goes to exactly when the event happens, he went back further, so he had time to stop both missiles. Cause he’s super smart.
Fixed in a flash.
