HOW LONG DOES IT STAY DOWN?

[Liz_I]

Cold water, that is.
The ice melts and circulates around the world for how long?
This has a direct effect on the worlds weather systems.
Anyone know the answer?

 

[roly_voya]

Depends where it starts, for example the greenland current floes under the gulf stream and presumably becomes part of the north atlantic circuit. The gulf stream sinks NW of iceland so presumably any melt water from that region joins it. Likewise any flow out of the Bearing st will presumably join the N pacific circuit. N clue about what goes on around antartica. From what I have read the main threat from ice melt in terms of weather change is that if the melt water flow from E Greenland/Davies st reaches an (unkown) critical level instead of flowing under the gulf streem it may cut it off. There is evidence in the geological record that this has happend before, that it was a sudden change (less than a decade) and that it resulted in W europe experiencing similar conditions to Canada - so expect the chanel to be blocked by ice for 3/4 months. Scarry thought!!

 

[Liz_I]

Fresh water flows round the worlds oceans for anything between a few hundred to 1000 years !
Can you believe that?

 

[[3889]]

[ QUOTE ]
Fresh water flows round the worlds oceans for anything between a few hundred to 1000 years !
Can you believe that?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, neither North Atlantic Deap Water nor Antarctic Bottom Water are fresh, but cold with high salinity.