James Stewart

Thermo meaning temperature and haline meaning saltiness. The AMOC is part of this thermohaline circulation conveyor belt, circulating water from north to south and back again in a long cycle within the Atlantic Ocean. It drives warm water northwards along the ocean surface and cold, deep waters back southwards.

In doing this, it delivers heat and nutrients to the colder latitudes and also transfers carbon to the ocean depths. Things begin off the east coast of North America, where the Gulf Stream, which is part of the AMOC, carries warm water from the Florida Straits up to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

In doing this, it delivers heat and nutrients to the colder latitudes and also transfers carbon to the ocean depths. Things begin off the east coast of North America, where the Gulf Stream, which is part of the AMOC, carries warm water from the Florida Straits up to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

In doing this, it delivers heat and nutrients to the colder latitudes and also transfers carbon to the ocean depths. Things begin off the east coast of North America, where the Gulf Stream, which is part of the AMOC, carries warm water from the Florida Straits up to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Now, from there, the North Atlantic current then travels across the ocean towards Europe and the Norwegian Sea. When this warmer water reaches the subpolar regions nearer Greenland or Arctica, Not only does it cool down as it loses heat to the atmosphere, but it also becomes more dense. The cooling forms sea ice, and as the ice forms, salt is left behind in the ocean water.

Now, from there, the North Atlantic current then travels across the ocean towards Europe and the Norwegian Sea. When this warmer water reaches the subpolar regions nearer Greenland or Arctica, Not only does it cool down as it loses heat to the atmosphere, but it also becomes more dense. The cooling forms sea ice, and as the ice forms, salt is left behind in the ocean water.

Now, from there, the North Atlantic current then travels across the ocean towards Europe and the Norwegian Sea. When this warmer water reaches the subpolar regions nearer Greenland or Arctica, Not only does it cool down as it loses heat to the atmosphere, but it also becomes more dense. The cooling forms sea ice, and as the ice forms, salt is left behind in the ocean water.

Now that large amount of salt makes the water much denser, causing it to sink down into the ocean at a depth of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, where it's then carried back southwards. That's where the overturning in AMOC comes from.

Now that large amount of salt makes the water much denser, causing it to sink down into the ocean at a depth of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, where it's then carried back southwards. That's where the overturning in AMOC comes from.

Now that large amount of salt makes the water much denser, causing it to sink down into the ocean at a depth of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, where it's then carried back southwards. That's where the overturning in AMOC comes from.

This sensation creates a vertical overturning circulation throughout the ocean basin, as the water is eventually pulled back up towards the surface and warms up, thus completing the cycle, much like your central heating system works at home. Every second, it moves an incredible 17 million cubic meters of water northwards, equivalent to around 7,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This sensation creates a vertical overturning circulation throughout the ocean basin, as the water is eventually pulled back up towards the surface and warms up, thus completing the cycle, much like your central heating system works at home. Every second, it moves an incredible 17 million cubic meters of water northwards, equivalent to around 7,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This sensation creates a vertical overturning circulation throughout the ocean basin, as the water is eventually pulled back up towards the surface and warms up, thus completing the cycle, much like your central heating system works at home. Every second, it moves an incredible 17 million cubic meters of water northwards, equivalent to around 7,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This in turn moves 1.2 petawatts worth of heat, a hundred times bigger than all the global energy produced on Earth from all power sources. And all of that is critical in regulating global climate around the world. As impressive as all of that is, and it really is, it all happens rather slowly, which is quite surprising for such an awesome system.

This in turn moves 1.2 petawatts worth of heat, a hundred times bigger than all the global energy produced on Earth from all power sources. And all of that is critical in regulating global climate around the world. As impressive as all of that is, and it really is, it all happens rather slowly, which is quite surprising for such an awesome system.

This in turn moves 1.2 petawatts worth of heat, a hundred times bigger than all the global energy produced on Earth from all power sources. And all of that is critical in regulating global climate around the world. As impressive as all of that is, and it really is, it all happens rather slowly, which is quite surprising for such an awesome system.

In fact, the AMOC's entire circulation cycle is slow. It takes an estimated 1,000 years for a parcel, any given cubic meter of water, to complete its journey along the belt. and it really can't afford to get any slower. But sadly, that's where the problem lies, because it does seem to be slowing down. But why?

In fact, the AMOC's entire circulation cycle is slow. It takes an estimated 1,000 years for a parcel, any given cubic meter of water, to complete its journey along the belt. and it really can't afford to get any slower. But sadly, that's where the problem lies, because it does seem to be slowing down. But why?

In fact, the AMOC's entire circulation cycle is slow. It takes an estimated 1,000 years for a parcel, any given cubic meter of water, to complete its journey along the belt. and it really can't afford to get any slower. But sadly, that's where the problem lies, because it does seem to be slowing down. But why?

Before we press on, quick terminology tidy up for the AMOC and the Gulfstream, as the two are often confused. As we've just touched on, the Gulfstream is a part of the AMOC system, not the system itself. It's like an internal organ the AMOC couldn't function without. The Gulf Stream originates at the tip of Florida.