1. From Chapter 4, As the greenhouse effect continues to warm the planet slowly,
ID: 235415 • Letter: 1
Question
1. From Chapter 4, As the greenhouse effect continues to warm the planet slowly, the glaciers of Greenland are melting at a rapid rate. Scientists are concerned that this melting may dilute the salt water in that region of the ocean enough to shut down thermohaline circulation. Use what you know about climate to answer the following questions.
(a) Explain how shutting down thermohaline circulation would affect the temperature of western Europe.
(b) Explain the consequences such a temperature change might have for agriculture in western Europe.
(c) Explain why there would be large populations of fish along the west coasts of most continents.
(d) Explain how shutting down thermohaline circulation would affect the transport of nutrients among the oceans of the world.
Explanation / Answer
Due to the effect of global warming the glaciers are are stareted melting more fastly.This melting will cause the disolved minerals to dilute in that water,because of this effect the surface temperatures will change.This temperatures will cause to slow down or stop the thermohaline circulations.
a) The Gulf stream current in the atlantic ocean is carring warm water currents from Gulf of mexico to Europe.Due to shutting down of thermohaline circulation would reduce the amount of warm surface water flowing from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe and this would cause western Europe to experience colder temperatures.
b) The effect of shutting down thermohaline circulation will cause colder temperatuers in western Europe, this cause crops to reduce due to shortning of seasons or regonal coolnig and flood increase.
c) Most of the worlds water currents converges at the west costs. The temperature changes will cause deep water to raise and replaces the water at the surface.These deep waters bring with them nutrients from the ocean bottom that support large populations of producers. The producers then support large populations of fish.
d) Due to shut down of thermohaline circulations the water circulation will be stopped, this cause to stop mixing of deep water with surface water. Because of this reasons supply of nutrients reduce along the oceans.
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