Till recently, it remained unclear how the ACC responds to climate fluctuations, and whether changes in the ACC balanced out or amplify the impacts of warming,” says Lamy.” A weaker ACC and lower atmospheric CO2 levels throughout the ice ages of the Pleistocene show less pronounced upwelling and more stratification in the Southern Ocean, that is, more CO2 storage,” says Gisela Winckler. At the same time, relatively warm deep water from the Atlantic and Pacific flows into it.Large ocean gyres that are formed in the ACC and roam south, together with the upwelling of deep water, transport heat to the ice shelves on the continental margin, particularly in the Pacific sector of the Antarctic.
” Climate Response and Data Collection” The ACC has a significant impact on heat circulation and CO2 storage in the ocean. Till just recently, it stayed uncertain how the ACC responds to environment changes, and whether modifications in the ACC offset or magnify the effects of warming,” says Lamy.” A weaker ACC and lower atmospheric CO2 levels during the ice ages of the Pleistocene suggest less pronounced upwelling and more stratification in the Southern Ocean, that is, more CO2 storage,” says Gisela Winckler. Driven by the powerful westerly winds of the subantarctic zone, and by temperature and salinity distinctions in between the subtropics and the Southern Ocean, the ACC forms a barrier for the warm surface area water of the subtropics on its method to the Antarctic. At the very same time, relatively warm deep water from the Atlantic and Pacific flows into it.Large ocean vortexes that are formed in the ACC and wander south, together with the upwelling of deep water, transport heat to the ice shelves on the continental margin, especially in the Pacific sector of the Antarctic.
