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Adriana G. Hernandez
Leticia Mendez
Francisco Alejo
6341.63
Ocean Conveyor Belt ESS Cycle B
Problem Statement
The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt transports warm surface water to high latitude where the
water warms the air, then cools, sinks and returns towards the equator as a deep flow. The
Great Ocean Conveyor Belt is slowing down due to the rise of global temperatures. If the
Ocean Conveyor Belt comes to a halt what type of abrupt climate changes are expected to
occur and how does the Global Warming impact the conveyor belt through these
changes?
Step 1: Event>Sphere Interactions
E>A
I read in Oceanic Conveyor belt background page that if the belt would to stop or slow
down, Northern Europe’s climate would become much colder because the heat from the
south would not make it up there. (Lindstrom)
According to Lindstrom, the conveyor belt regulates temperatures at high altitudes
because “warm water from the tropical Atlantic moves pole ward near the surface where
it gives up some of its heat to the atmosphere.” So I make an inference that if the
conveyor belt stopped, the areas at high altitudes would be unbearable. The temperatures
there would be more extreme. (Lindstrom)
E > A – the climate is different in different regions of the world due to the temperatures
of the water for instance water in equator where it’s the warmest cause
evaporation of water into the air. (Dunphy, 2011)
E>H
E > H – melted ice cause fresh water Increasing amounts of fresh water from melting ice
and other warm phenomena are making their way into the North Atlantic where it
could freeze which would prevent water from sinking and decrease the need to
loop to deliver as much warm water as it does now. This event could lead to a
colder climate in the Northern Hemisphere. (Rahmstorf, 2006)
E>B
From reading about the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt, I know that it regulates climate. If it
would slow down or stop, it would affect the temperatures. So places that would normally
be warm because the ocean conveyor belt would bring warm air would not get the warm
air and it would be much colder. Places that would get cooler air coming down from the
north would not get it and it would be much warmer than usual.
E>L
E > L - global warming causes ice to melt
E > L As the abrupt changes in the climate become more present due to the effect of the
ocean’s conveyor belt changes we will see more dry lands and droughts in areas that were
green before.
Step 2: Sphere>Event Interactions
How could each sphere affect the event?
A>E
I read on the Internet that the wind and the Earth’s rotation causes the spiraling effect of
the oceans which then helps the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt to move.(Lindstrom)
B>E
For years I’ve been hearing and reading about Global Warming. According to what I
know, Global Warming is our fault. After reading articles about the Great Ocean
Conveyor Belt, I realized that we are doing things that cause the hole in the ozone and
that could contribute to the slowing down or stopping of the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt.
L>E
Step 3: Sphere>Sphere Interactions
How could each sphere affect the other spheres?
Lithosphere
L>B
L > B - Dry lands caused by the abrupt climate changes will encourages all living
organisms to migrate to other parts of the territories. This will include us, humans, and
will modify the way we live in this planet.
Atmosphere
A>B
A > B - Due to the changes in the climate produced by the many species have disappear
or completely move to a more suitable location. (Climate Change and Animal Populations)
A>H
I know that the hole in the atmosphere is getting bigger and is causing global warming.
The global warming is causing ice to melt. According to Lindstrom’s webpage, once
there is more freshwater going into the ocean, it will change the salinity of the water. The
ocean conveyor belt functions on the temperature and salinity of the water. If the salinity
changes, it will slow down or stop the conveyor belt. (Lindstrom)
A > H – the warm air causes the ice to melt and creates fresh water, what effect does this
have on the Thermohaline Circulation, which is the circulation of waters based on
the density and salinity of the waters. (The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt andAbrupt
Climate Change: Cycle A, 2007)
Hydrosphere
H>B
H > B the polar bears have been in the list of species in danger of disappearing due to the lack of
food in the arctic.
Casual Chains
E>L>H
E > L > H – fresh water from ice melt can affect the Thermohaline Circulation, how?
E>H>B
E > H > B what will happen to ocean life if conveyor belt comes to a stop
E > H > B - More water in the oceans will be the effect after the ice glazers melt down.
This will force the earth’s living organisms to migrate further into land or to adapt to new
water living conditions. (Are We on the Brink of a 'New Little Ice Age?')
A>H>B
I know that the atmosphere is getting warmer because of global warming. Then I read
that the Atlantic Ocean is warmer and more saline and causes the water to be denser. So
I’m inferring that if the atmosphere continues to get hot, the water in the Atlantic Ocean
is going to be even more salty, since there will be more water evaporating. That will
make the water denser and will change the way it moves in the belt. It will be heavier and
have more power, therefore, taking more animals with it as it travels north. It could
definitely change the animal’s ability to survive. (Osborne & Kline 2008)
Works Cited
Climate Change and Animal Populations. (2002). Retrieved from Exploratorium:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/biosphere/data5.html
Terrence Joyce, L. K. (2003, February 10). Are We on the Brink of a 'New Little Ice Age?'.
Retrieved from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution:
http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=12455&tid=282&cid=10046
Lindstrom, E. J. (n.d.). Ocean conveyor belt impact. Retrieved from
http://oceanmotion.org/html/background/ocean-conveyor-belt.htm
Lindstrom, E. J. (n.d.). Ocean conveyor belt background. Retrieved from
http://oceanmotion.org/html/background/ocean-conveyor-belt.htm
Osborn, T., & Kleinen, T. (2008, May). The thermohaline circulation. Retrieved from
http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/thc/
Dunphy, M. (2011, August 22). Newly Discovered Icelandic Current Could Lead To Climate
Cooling. Retrieved from Ascending Starseed 2012 The Awakening:
http://ascendingstarseed.wordpress.com/category/earth-changes/blizzards/cold-weather/
Broecker, W. S. (1991). The Great Ocean Conveyor. Oceanography , 79-89.
Rahmstorf, S. (2006). The Thermohaline Ocean Circulation. Retrieved from Potsdam Institure for
Climate Impact Research: http://www.pik-potsdam.de/~stefan/thc_fact_sheet.html
The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt andAbrupt Climate Change: Cycle A. (2007, October
14). Retrieved November 20, 2011, from ESSEA:
http://esseacourses.strategies.org/private/learner.module.php?course_id=397&coursemod
ule_id=932&cycle=A&cycle_label=10