Figure 1 The ‘great ocean conveyor belt’ picture of the overturning circulation, originally developed by Wally Broecker (1931–2019) of Columbia University
The oceans are a vital part of our dynamic Earth. Underpinning their importance are the ocean currents, huge systems of moving water that join the different oceans together. They transport everything from heat and salt, to carbon, nutrients and life, and they connect the world’s marine ecosystems.
Arguably the most important of these current systems is called the ‘meridional overturning circulation’ (MOC). In the past, abrupt changes in the MOC caused extreme and rapid climate change, and it is possible that human activity will cause these currents to change in the future.
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