The Role Of Climate Change In The Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream, also referred to as “the ocean’s conveyor belt”, circulates up to 100 times the amount of water as all the world’s rivers combined (Landstrom). Pumping millions of gallons of water daily, the Gulf Stream cycles water from Florida to the coast of Great Britain. Since the Gulf Stream relies on a steady flow of water, it depends upon the climate, leaving it vulnerable to climate change. If climate change actually disrupts the Gulf Stream, then it will be evident because of the decreased salinity of the water caused by the melting ice caps, the slowdown in circulation and rising sea levels, and changing wind patterns leading to a weakened Gulf Stream. As the Gulf Stream continues on a slope of deterioration, the following climate