Space satellites have captured anomalous processes on the surface of the oceans – scientists have never seen such images before.

In a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change in April, scientists presented their findings on how ocean currents have become more active in much of the ocean. About this study he writes space.com.

What are the Ocean Vortexes?

If we look at the ocean from above, from a bird’s eye view, we see enchanting rotational movements in the water. Such things are called ocean eddies. They give the ocean an artistic atmosphere, as they are reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

The vortices extend across the ocean, covering 10 to 100 kilometers. They are found in various places in the oceans. However, in some areas there are many vortices.

These include the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the Curiosian Current in the North Pacific, the South Ocean that surrounds Antarctica, and the East Australian Current near Australia, made famous by Finding Nemo.

Ocean vortices are an integral part of ocean circulation. They move streams of hot and cold water from one place to another. They also mix heat, salts and nutrients and affect the state of the oceans both regionally and globally.

The ocean is constantly monitored by satellites.

One way to observe movement on the surface of the oceans is through powerful special space satellites that orbit the Earth. Although these satellites are thousands of kilometers from us, they can detect changes in sea level rise of a few centimeters.

Then, using data analysis, scientists can translate changes in sea level rise into the speed of ocean currents. This can show how active the ocean vortex is.

After careful analysis of the satellite data, an Australian team of scientists led by Andy Hogg and Josue Martínez Moreno of the Australian National University and Matthew England, deputy director of the Center for Climate Change Research, discovered obvious anomalies in the distribution and intensity. of ocean eddies. There have been no such changes in the past.

How the ocean eddies change

Using the data available from 1993 to 2020, the scientists analyzed changes in the intensity of ocean eddies around the world. They found that in those regions where ocean eddies were already abundant, they increased even more. Vortex activity increases an average of five percent every decade.

Some of the biggest changes are in the Southern Ocean, where vortex activity has increased by at least five percent over the decade. The Southern Ocean is famous for being the absorption point of the ocean’s heat.

Until recently, scientists were able to observe changes in ocean eddies using only sparse ocean measurements or limited satellite records. Satellite logs have only recently become long enough for experts to draw firm conclusions about likely long-term trends in vortex activity.

Why are changes in ocean eddies important?

Ocean eddies have a major impact on climate, regulating heat, carbon, biota, and nutrient fluxes and mixing in the oceans. Therefore, research by scientists may have important implications for the future climate situation.

Scientists have long known that eddies in the Southern Ocean affect ocean circulation. Therefore, the significant vortex changes recorded can affect the rate of heat and carbon dioxide generation.

However, vortices are often overlooked when predicting global warming. Because the vortices are relatively small, they remain largely “invisible” in current climate design models for the future.

Therefore, the impact of ocean eddies on climate forecasts is still uncertain or underestimated. This is particularly concerning given the recent discovery by Australian scientists that vortices are becoming more active.

This study highlights the crucial importance of including ocean eddies in future climate forecasts. If this is not done, a crucial detail is likely to be ignored.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01006-9