A common misconception is if we reduce co2 emissions sometime in the future, the climate will right itself or be kept at manageable levels. However, as temperatures rise they cause other natural phenomenon to change and one of these is the ocean currents, which move hot and cold water around the globe and so dramatically influence the stability of the climate. Below is a newly appreciated situation that is very likely to lead to rapid climate change and well out of our control, should ocean currents slow or otherwise change.

>>A group of elephant seals in Antarctica has helped show how freshwater from melting ice shelves affects a key part of the engine that drives the circulation of the world’s oceans.
Key points

Scientists analysed water temperature and salinity data collected by southern elephant seals in Prydz Bay Data shows water from Antarctica’s melting ice shelves is diluting dense water in the deep ocean Study suggests increased melting under future warming conditions could affect ocean circulation

An international team of researchers led by Dr Guy Williams of the University of Tasmania analysed temperature and salinity data captured by sensors attached to the elephant seals.

The data, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows how melting ice shelves in Prydz Bay in East Antarctica are interfering with the production of Antarctic bottom water.

Bottom water is formed when seas around Antarctica freeze over in winter causing salt to leach out of the sea ice. This process forms dense surface water that eventually sinks to form cold dense water that sits in the abyssal zone 4,000 metres to 6,000 metres below the surface.

“It’s a key part of the global circulation,” Dr Williams explained.

“If you think of a conveyer belt, is really the gear that drives the engine that is pumping that circulation.”

The finding suggests that increased melting of ice shelves with future warming could affect the production of bottom water, Dr Williams said.<<

More;-

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-24/seals-reveal-how-antarctica’s-ice-shelves-affect-deep-ocean/7773362

> as temperatures rise they cause other natural phenomenon to change and one of these is the ocean currents, which move hot and cold water around the globe and so dramatically influence the stability of the climate.

Certainly do. The ocean currents of the whole world have changed enormously since the end of the last ice age.

One question I asked before on this forum, but don’t remember if I received and answer:
Is there any proof that the Gulf Steam has been around four longer than 3,000 years?
If the Gulf Stream switched on a mere 3,000 years ago then that would explain quite a few recent climate changes, particularly the sudden increase in the habitability of Scandinavia, and the rapid recent northwards spread into the Middle East and Europe of the dryness associated with the northern Sahara.

Perhaps I’m overstating it with the habitability of Scandinavia. It’s true that neither the iron age nor the beaker people ever reached Scandinavia, but there were some people there over part of the bronze age.

Perhaps more relevant is that the Baltic Sea was a freshwater lake not connected to the Atlantic Ocean as recently as 5,500 years ago. I suppose that would have had a significant effect. The lake was created by ice sheet meltwater that eventually channelled it’s way through to the North Sea.

PermeateFree said:

Scientists analysed water temperature and salinity data collected by southern elephant seals in Prydz Bay Data shows water from Antarctica’s melting ice shelves is diluting dense water in the deep ocean Study suggests increased melting under future warming conditions could affect ocean circulation

I wonder whats causing this melting we should be concerned about?

where’s Prydz Bay located

Howz the sea ice doing?

whats the sea ice trend at present?

Whats the sea ice trend since 1979?

Whats the Southern Polar air temperature trend since 1979?

what area does the Southern Ocean cover?

Whats the sea surface temperature trend been doing for the southern ocean since the early 1980’s?

.

well well pf, I am concerned too. What could be causing this apparent melting, it sure aint warming

The_observer said:

PermeateFree said:

Scientists analysed water temperature and salinity data collected by southern elephant seals in Prydz Bay Data shows water from Antarctica’s melting ice shelves is diluting dense water in the deep ocean Study suggests increased melting under future warming conditions could affect ocean circulation

I wonder whats causing this melting we should be concerned about?

where’s Prydz Bay located

Howz the sea ice doing?

whats the sea ice trend at present?

!http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/S_stddev_timeseries_thumb.png

Whats the sea ice trend since 1979?

!http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/s_plot.png

Whats the Southern Polar air temperature trend since 1979?

!ftp://ftp.ssmi.com/msu/graphics/tlt/plots/rss_ts_channel_tlt_southern%20polar_land_and_sea_v03_3.png

what area does the Southern Ocean cover?

!https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3k_mx2Cw0oaUlLBxnxqG74dMSuxvCodV6cJoCRzsz6lHcYZSx

Whats the sea surface temperature trend been doing for the southern ocean since the early 1980’s?

!https://bobtisdale.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/14-southern-ssta.png?w=640
.

well well pf, I am concerned too. What could be causing this apparent melting, it sure aint warming

Couldn’t wait till you tried this one. so until I can gather my composure…… bwahahahahhaa! you poor foolish nitwit.

The_observer said:

PermeateFree said:

Scientists analysed water temperature and salinity data collected by southern elephant seals in Prydz Bay Data shows water from Antarctica’s melting ice shelves is diluting dense water in the deep ocean Study suggests increased melting under future warming conditions could affect ocean circulation

I wonder whats causing this melting we should be concerned about?

where’s Prydz Bay located

Howz the sea ice doing?

whats the sea ice trend at present?

Whats the sea ice trend since 1979?

Whats the Southern Polar air temperature trend since 1979?

what area does the Southern Ocean cover?

Whats the sea surface temperature trend been doing for the southern ocean since the early 1980’s?

.

well well pf, I am concerned too. What could be causing this apparent melting, it sure aint warming

Perhaps if you read the article Observer, you would find it is about a NEW type research that is showing worrying trends that were not obvious before.