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Interesting news — Science XXI
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The salinity of the southern part of the Indian Ocean is sharply decreasing due to climate change
Yesterday
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2 min
On the western coast of Australia in the southern part of the Indian Ocean, a decrease in salinity is observed, which is related to climate change. A new study by scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder shows that this process has accelerated over the past six decades. The increase in global temperatures has altered the structure of winds and currents, which in turn has led to an increase in the influx of freshwater into this region.
According to Phys.org, such changes could disrupt the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, as well as affect the global circulation of waters that regulates the planet's climate. Professor Weiqing Han noted that a significant shift in the movement of freshwater in the ocean is being observed. Normally, the salinity of seawater is about 3.5%, but in the tropics of the Indo-Pacific region, it is lower due to frequent precipitation. This region is connected to a large-scale "conveyor" of currents that redistributes heat and salt around the world, including the Atlantic Ocean.
However, over the past six decades, the situation near the shores of Australia has changed dramatically. This area, which was previously known for its high salinity and dryness due to significant evaporation, is now experiencing a 30% reduction in the area of saline water. This is the fastest recorded freshwater influx in the Southern Hemisphere. Researcher Genshin Chen compared the volume of incoming freshwater to 60% of the volume of Lake Tahoe, which would be enough to provide drinking water for the entire population of the United States for more than 380 years.
A key factor in this phenomenon is global warming, leading to changes in surface winds over the Indian and tropical Pacific Oceans. These changes cause large volumes of freshwater to move southward from the Indo-Pacific basin. As a result, less salty and less dense water accumulates at the surface, hindering the mixing of water layers. This makes it difficult for surface waters to sink and deep waters to rise, disrupting the distribution of nutrients and heat.
Such changes pose serious threats to marine life and climate. Previous studies have indicated that the influx of freshwater could slow down thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic. Moreover, the lack of mixing deprives plankton and seagrasses of essential nutrients from the depths and retains excess heat at the surface, creating stress for organisms. Chen noted that changes at the food chain level could have far-reaching consequences for ocean biodiversity.
