Researchers from the University of Melbourne and the NORCE Norway Research Centre predict that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) could weaken by 20% by 2050.
- Cause of Weakening:
- Melting Antarctic ice releases fresh, cool water, which dilutes the ocean’s saltiness.
- This dilution reduces the water density contrast that drives the ACC.
- Role of the ACC:
- Protects Vulnerable Ice Sheets: It keeps warmer waters at bay, preserving Antarctica’s delicate climate.
- Prevents Invasive Species: The current acts as a barrier to species like southern bull kelp, hindering their spread towards the continent.
- Global Climate Regulation: As part of the ocean’s “conveyor belt,” it moves water, heat, and nutrients between the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
- Significance and Challenges:
- The ACC is the strongest ocean current—five times stronger than the Gulf Stream and over 100 times stronger than the Amazon River.
- Its remote location makes it hard to study directly, contributing to the current gaps in our understanding of its dynamics.
- A weakened ACC could allow invasive species to reach Antarctica, potentially disrupting local food chains and affecting native species like penguins.
(Source: BBC)
