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The ACC varies with time. Evidence of this is the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave, a periodic oscillation that affects the climate of much of the southern hemisphere. [7] There is also the Antarctic oscillation, which involves changes in the location and strength of Antarctic winds. Trends in the Antarctic Oscillation have been hypothesized to ...
Climate change alters winds above Antarctica, which can also affect surface current circulation, [57] [58] but the importance of this process has been disputed. [11] An illustration of the theory behind marine ice sheet and marine ice cliff instabilities. [56] Most importantly, the WAIS has a complex topography which magnifies its vulnerability.
A schematic overview of the Southern Ocean overturning circulation. The arrows point in the direction of the water movement. The lower cell of the circulation is depicted by the upwelling arrows south of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water beneath the sea ice of Antarctica due to buoyancy loss.
Antarctic waters predominantly sink beneath the warmer subantarctic waters, while associated zones of mixing and upwelling create a zone very high in marine productivity, especially for Antarctic krill. This line, like the Arctic tree line, is a natural boundary rather than an artificial one, such as the borders of nations and time zones.
Nearly all of Antarctica is covered by a sheet of ice that is, on average, at least 1,500 m (5,000 ft) thick. Antarctica contains 90% of the world's ice and more than 70% of its fresh water. If all the land-ice covering Antarctica were to melt — around 30 × 10 ^ 6 km 3 (7.2 × 10 ^ 6 cu mi) of ice — the seas would rise by over 60 m (200 ft ...
While these effects weren't fully caused by climate change, with some role played by the natural cycle of Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation, [90] [91] they are likely to worsen in the future. As of early 2020s, climate models ' best, limited-confidence estimate is that the lower cell would continue to weaken, while the upper cell may strengthen ...
Antarctic surface ice layer temperature trends between 1981 and 2007, based on thermal infrared observations made by a series of NOAA satellite sensors.. Climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities occurs everywhere on Earth, and while Antarctica is less vulnerable to it than any other continent, [1] climate change in Antarctica has been observed.
This can be due to the transport of oil by large ships. Siberia is one example of a place that has had major pollution in its rivers. [30] Depletion on the ozone layer is one more threat. An ozone hole has been detected above Antarctica. The cause of the depletion of the ozone layer is due to chlorofluorocarbons and other greenhouse gases. The ...