Thermohaline Circulation and Climate

Most of the heat transported on Earth is done by the atmosphere, but the thermohaline circulation is responsible for supplying heat to the poles and regulating the growth of sea ice. Changes in the thermohaline circulation would have significant impacts on the earth’s energy budget. The thermohaline circulation controls the rate at which deep water comes to the surface, playing a role in the carbon cycle.

The ocean plays a major role in the distribution of the planet’s heat through deep sea circulation. This simplified illustration shows this “conveyor belt” circulation which is driven by differences in heat and salinity. Records of past climate suggest that there is some change that this circulation could be altered by the changes projected in many climate models, with impacts to climate throughout lands bordering the North Atlantic. Source: The Global Conveyor Belt | NOAA