Meddies are shown in red in this graphic
Using sensor data from several U.S. and European satellites, researchers from the University of Delaware, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Ocean University of China have developed a method to detect super-salty, submerged eddies called “Meddies” that occur in the Atlantic Ocean off Spain and Portugal at depths of more than a half mile. These warm, deep-water whirlpools, part of the ocean’s complex circulatory system, help drive the ocean currents that moderate Earth’s climate.
The research marks the first time scientists have been able to detect phenomena so deep in the ocean from space — and using a new multi-sensor technique that can track changes in ocean salinity.
While warm water ordinarily resides at the ocean’s surface, the warm water flowing out of the Mediterranean Sea has such a high salt concentration that when it enters the Atlantic Ocean at the Strait of Gibraltar, it sinks to depths of more than a half mile (1,000 meters) along the continental shelf. This underwater river then separates into clockwise-flowing Meddies that may continue to spin westward for more than two years, often coalescing with other Meddies to form giant, salty whirlpools that may stretch for hundreds of miles.
“There is concern about global climate change shutting down the ocean currents that warm the Atlantic Ocean,” Yan says. “The melting of sea ice at the North Pole could add enormous amounts of fresh water to the Atlantic, reducing its salinity enough to slow the sinking of cooler water, which would shut down the conveyor belt of ocean currents that help warm major regions of the planet.”
I know, I know. This kicks off the folks who don’t understand that regional cooling usually takes place as part of global warming. Meanwhile, the mechanisms — and our growing ability to define them — is interesting stuff.
The folks who don’t belive in global climate change will never let the evidence change their view.
That’s why the whales keep hitting the rock of gibraltar; they’re dizzy from riding the whirlpools. They say it’s a rush.
I wonder…are there any in the “Bermuda Triangle?” Anyone have Art Bells number?
Should be a good tool to track subs, too.
Ok, first we start with this quote:
“There is concern about global climate change shutting down the ocean currents that warm the Atlantic Ocean,” Yan says. “The melting of sea ice at the North Pole could add enormous amounts of fresh water to the Atlantic, reducing its salinity enough to slow the sinking of cooler water, which would shut down the conveyor belt of ocean currents that help warm major regions of the planet.”
Which basically states a hypothesis. Then we proceed to this quote:
“The research marks the first time scientists have been able to detect phenomena so deep in the ocean from space — and using a new multi-sensor technique that can track changes in ocean salinity.”
Which states that a new tool exists for testing the hypothesis. Cool.
But then we bypass all remaining science and investigation and proceed directly to this wonderful quote:
“The folks who don’t belive in global climate change will never let the evidence change their view.”
Exactly what evidence are you referring to, jasontheodd? Some of us actually have a problem FINDING the evidence that the global warming crowd keep stating exists, but never actually reference.
I have seen some evidence that supports the position that global warming is occuring. But I haven’t seen any evidence that conclusively proves (or even gives a high probability) the warming is man-caused.
I read articles about how some global-warming critic was debunked, without any supporting documentation of the data or math used in the process.
I hear all about are how computer models predict this or that global catastrophe a hundred years from now, without any documentation provided on their precision or accuracy when dealing with historical data.
Convince me with data, not rhetoric.