How can the Thermo-Haline Conveyer be effected by Global Warming?
Answer:
You're mixing a couple of scientific terms, although your question is still clear.
"Thermohaline circulation" is a process by which ocean water moves toward either Pole, cools, and sinks. That draws warm water up from the Equator. The cool water flows back below the surface. So the water looks much like a giant conveyor belt. The top of it pulls warm water toward the poles. It's a general process. (That was slightly simplified.)
The "Great Conveyor" is a specific example. It is a grand series of ocean currents driven by thermohaline circulation. One large branch runs from the South Pacific to the North Atlantic, and has a marked warming effect on Europe. Without it Europe would be much colder and their agriculture severely disrupted. Nice picture here:
http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/32.htm...
Scientists worried about a theoretical possibility that melting ice from Greenland would dilute the North end of the Great Conveyor near Europe. That would make the water less salty and therefore less dense. So it wouldn't sink as fast, the Great Conveyor would slow down, and Europe would be badly hurt.
It's an excellent example of how global warming can hurt places in complicated ways, sometimes by making them drier or even colder.
One of the rare pieces of good news about global warming is that, while Greenland is melting, the Great Conveyor is so far unaffected.
Google "thermohaline circulation" and "great conveyor" for more information.
When the poles melt because of warm temperatures, fresh water is dumped into the sea. The lack of salinity in the ocean slows down the conveyor and that cools the planet back down.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers: