A recent study conducted by the University of California, Riverside has shed light on the impact of historical extreme heat episodes on ocean circulation. The research, using ancient deep-sea foraminifera shells, revealed that these heat events caused a slowdown in the exchange between surface and deep ocean waters. This slowdown, also known as the ‘global conveyor belt,’ plays a crucial role in redistributing heat globally and storing carbon.
The findings of the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide insights into how the ocean conveyor belt responded to extreme heat episodes that occurred 50 million years ago during the Early Eocene epoch. The conditions during that time, characterized by warmer temperatures and higher CO2 levels, mirror the potential future climate scenarios if current carbon emissions remain unchecked.
Ocean circulation is vital for regulating Earth’s climate by transporting warm water from the equator to the poles, maintaining a balance in global temperatures. Any disruptions in this circulation system can lead to significant and abrupt climate changes. Additionally, oceans play a critical role in sequestering anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Sandra Kirtland Turner, the vice-chair of UCR’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the first author of the study, emphasized the importance of oceans in the global carbon cycle. Currently, the oceans hold a vast amount of carbon, approximately 40,000 billion tons, which is significantly more than the carbon present in the atmosphere. Oceans absorb about a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities, highlighting their crucial role in mitigating climate change.
The study’s findings underscore the potential consequences of continued carbon emissions on ocean circulation and climate stability. By understanding how past climate events affected the ocean conveyor belt, researchers aim to provide valuable insights into the future impacts of climate change and the importance of mitigating carbon emissions to preserve the planet’s delicate balance.
