The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, or AMOC, is a system of ocean currents that carries warmth into the Northern hemisphere’s high latitudes. It is essential for controlling the global climate, since it distributes heat, energy, and nutrients throughout the earth. The AMOC also draws carbon dioxide from up in the atmosphere and deep into the ocean. The AMOC is driven by variations in both temperature and salt quantity - which determines the water’s density. It consists of both warm surface currents, and also cold deep-water return flows. The warm currents contain the Gulf Stream, which branches off into the North Atlantic Current. As the warm water flows to the North, it cools down and evaporation occurs, increasing the total amount of salt. Since the water has a lower temperature and a higher salt quantity, the water becomes denser, and it sinks deeper. Through a process called “upwelling”, the water is slowly pulled back to the surface and it is warmed.

  However, this circulation is different for other oceans. For example, in the Pacific Ocean, heat is transported equally among the North and South pole. However, since the heat is moving northwards for the Atlantic Ocean, there is an imbalance of heat between the two poles. This imbalance in heat is the determining factor behind several significant climatic features, including the latitude at which a key tropical rain belt is situated. This influences several aspects, including water supplies, agricultural precipitation, and also tropical ecosystems health.