Ocean currents are also important factors in determining climate,
particularly the Thermohaline circulation that distributes thermal energy from the equatorial
oceans to the polar regions.
The movement of the major
ocean gyres of the world helps drive Thermohaline circulation(commonly known as the‘ocean conveyor belt'),
which circulates ocean water all over the planet.
There is some speculation that global warming could,
via a shutdown or slowdown of the Thermohaline circulation, trigger localized cooling in the North Atlantic
and lead to cooling in that region.
The Gulf Stream is a major surface current,
primarily driven by Thermohaline circulation that originates in the Gulf of Mexico
and then flows through the Straits of Florida into the North Atlantic.
There is some speculation that global warming could,
via a shutdown or slowdown of the Thermohaline circulation, trigger localised cooling in the North Atlantic
and lead to cooling, or lesser warming, in that region.
There is some speculation that global warming could,
via a shutdown or slowdown of the Thermohaline circulation, trigger localized cooling in the North Atlantic
and lead to cooling, or lesser warming, in that region.