| Gulf Stream
Dramatic temperature shifts have happened in the past, driven partly by changes in a major ocean currents. A "great ocean conveyor" helps transport heat around the globe via surface and deep-sea movements of water. Scientists are exploring whether global warming might slow or shut it down - a scenario considered "low probability, high impact". This could disrupt mostly wind-driven surface currents such as the Gulf Stream, which helps to bring milder weather to Northern Europe.
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1 Surface currents carry warm, salty water from the tropics.
2 The water cools, its density increases and it sinks to the deep ocean.
3 The cold water flows back to the equator, driving the "ocean conveyor" which in turn contributes to the Gulf Stream that warms northern Europe.
4 As ice melts, freshwater dilutes the warm salty water from the tropics.
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The water becomes less dense so does not sink as fast, weakening the "conveyor" and therefore possibly disrupting the Gulf Stream.
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