ESS200A
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Global Warming and Thermohaline Circulation
q If the warming is
slow
The salinity is high enough to still produce a thermohaline circulation
èThe
circulation will transfer the heat to deep ocean
èThe
warming in the atmosphere will be deferred.
q If the warming is fast
Surface ocean becomes so warm (low water
density)
èNo
more thermohalione circulation
èThe
rate of global warming in the atmosphere will increase.