Gulf Stream and the carbon cycle

We are all aware of how the Gulf Stream is important in the transfer of heat in the climate system. In this video, we explore our view that the Gulf Stream plays a similarly important role in the ocean carbon cycle. The Gulf Stream transports nutrients and waters that can uptake carbon at depth, when these waters reach the surface at high latitudes there is an uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Thus, in our view, the Gulf Stream helps determine the downstream carbon sink for the North Atlantic.

We are conducting a research project called C-Streams to understand this process, supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council and the US National Science Foundation.

Film by Professor RIc Williams (University of Liverpool) and Dr Pete Brown (National Oceanography Centre).