According to the latest assumptions of scientists, after a slowdown in the circulation of currents in the world's oceans and an increase in its ability to absorb carbon dioxide, the processes that triggered the last ice age could begin. from its surface together with dead living organisms. Such conclusions were made by scientists after studying the shells of microscopic algae, the remains of which have accumulated at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for several tens of thousands of years.
The speed of water movement in the world's oceans depends on how quickly the remains of plankton and other organisms accumulate at its bottom. The content of various isotopes in the remains and the surrounding water, for example, carbon and rare earth metals, also depends on it. By the amount of carbon at different depths of the Atlantic Ocean, scientists have established a map of the movement of deep movements over the past 50 thousand years. It shows that in more ancient times, water at a depth moved much slower than now. The same picture was obtained for other isotopes.
The slow movement of the water suggests that a lot of organic remains were deposited on the ocean floor. This lowered the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, leading to a lower greenhouse effect.
Scientists cannot yet give an explanation for the deceleration that occurred, and why the speed subsequently recovered.
