Tootfinder

Scientists fear the Atlantic’s great ocean conveyor could shut down #Atlantic

Scientists fear the Atlantic’s great ocean conveyor could shut down
A new study projects that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)—the system of currents that includes the Gulf Stream—could shut down after 2100 under high-emission scenarios. This shutdown would drastically reduce heat transport northward, leaving Europe vulnerable to extreme winters, summers of drying, and shifts in tropical rainfall. Climate models show the tipping point is linked to collapsing winter convection in the North Atlantic, which weakens vertical mixing and cre…

Study reveals the extent to which nanoplastic pollutes the North Atlantic #Atlantic

Study reveals the extent to which nanoplastic pollutes the North Atlantic
Plastic waste pollutes oceans across all regions of the world. Marine animals may become entangled in larger plastic debris such as nets and bags or mistake smaller pieces for food. Ingested plastic can block or injure the gastrointestinal tract. The smallest plastic particles in the micro and nano range are mostly excreted, but a small proportion can pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.