The distribution of salt by ocean currents plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate, according to a recent study published in Science Advances. Researchers from Dalhousie University, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), and MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen explored natural climate anomalies, including the well-known Little Ice Age, to understand the underlying climatic mechanisms and their potential impact on the global climate.
The Little Ice Age, a period of significant cooling from the 15th to the mid-19th century, had severe consequences such as poor harvests, famine, and disease in Europe. Despite being extensively studied, the mechanisms behind this climatic anomaly have been highly debated. Dr. Anastasia Zhuravleva, lead author of the study, highlights the importance of studying recent natural climate anomalies to understand the potential triggers for human-induced global warming. While previous research focused on sea ice extent and desalination in the subpolar North Atlantic as possible causes for past cold periods, this study sheds light on the significance of processes in the tropical Atlantic.
The research team examined a sediment profile from the southern Caribbean to reconstruct the salinity and temperature of the surface water over the last 1700 years. By analyzing the isotopic and elemental composition of plankton shells, the researchers were able to identify a cooling trend of approximately 1°C during the Little Ice Age. Dr. Mahyar Mohtadi, co-author of the study, emphasizes that this temperature change is significant for the region. Furthermore, the study revealed another pronounced cooling during the 8th-9th centuries, which coincided with severe droughts in the Yucatan Peninsula and the decline of the Classic Maya culture.
The researchers also discovered that the cold climate anomalies in the subpolar North Atlantic and Europe were accompanied by weaker ocean circulation and increased salinity in the Caribbean. Dr. Henning Bauch, paleoclimatologist at AWI and GEOMAR, explains that the movement of tropical salt to high northern latitudes is crucial for maintaining the overall stability of the large-scale ocean circulation, including the transportation of warm Gulf Stream water responsible for Europe’s mild temperatures.
The study provides evidence that a decrease in salt movement to high northern latitudes amplifies and prolongs climate events. This salinity feedback, known from models, was previously based on indirect precipitation records due to the lack of tropical ocean data. However, the researchers confirm that the slow movement of positive salinity anomalies from the tropics increases the density at the surface of the subpolar North Atlantic. Consequently, this favors the northward transport of heat through ocean currents, resulting in milder temperatures over Europe and North America. These findings support the assumption of a salinity feedback during the Little Ice Age.
While it is already evident that the Gulf Stream is weakening and that human-induced warming plays a significant role, the extent of interaction between different climate mechanisms remains an open question. However, this study confirms that the south-north transport of salt is a key factor in these processes, highlighting its global impact.
The distribution of salt by ocean currents is a crucial element in regulating the global climate. By studying natural climate anomalies like the Little Ice Age, researchers have unveiled the significance of processes in the tropical Atlantic and their impact on ocean circulation and climate. This study provides compelling evidence that the movement of salt to high northern latitudes amplifies and prolongs climate events, influencing temperatures in Europe and North America. Understanding the intricate interactions between various climate mechanisms is essential for predicting and mitigating the consequences of global climate change.
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