•1 min read•from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily
Earth’s most powerful ocean current didn’t form the way we thought
Our take
New research reveals that Earth's most powerful ocean current, encircling Antarctica, plays a more intricate role in shaping the planet's climate than previously understood. This colossal current, stronger than all the world's rivers combined, did not simply form due to the opening of ocean gateways. Instead, it emerged from the alignment of shifting continents and powerful winds. This alignment was crucial in pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing to a significant cooling event that transformed Earth into the ice-covered world we recognize today.
A colossal ocean current encircling Antarctica—stronger than all the world’s rivers combined—played a far more complex role in shaping Earth’s climate than scientists once thought. New research shows it didn’t form just because ocean gateways opened, but required shifting continents and powerful winds to align. This shift helped pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, contributing to a major cooling event that transformed Earth into the ice-covered world we know today.
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#ocean data#interactive ocean maps#ocean circulation#climate monitoring#research collaboration#climate change impact#research datasets#ocean current#Antarctica#climate#carbon dioxide#shifting continents#powerful winds#cooling event#atmosphere#ice-covered world#ocean gateways#research#major transformation#climate shaping