In learning about the global conveyor belt, it is natural to consider the impacts of climate change in the context of this course. While the global conveyor belt takes about 1,500 years to complete, any alteration of this process could prove to be significant. It is difficult to prove, at this point in time, that changes to the global conveyor belt are caused by humans, but it is a safe assumption that humans are significantly contributing to any change in the climate, and is a relevant consideration in this case.

One study, recently published in Science, has been monitoring the global conveyor belt since 2004. It is early to be able to notice trends, but one that was quite noticeable to the researchers is a slowdown of the belt. If this trend continues, it could be extremely significant for the transport of warm water.

Even with only a moderate slowdown, the global conveyor belt would not be able to transport warm water to the northern Atlantic, and could begin an ice age as the oceans become significantly more cold.

It is difficult to pinpoint trends and results, as well as causes, in such a short study. It is, however, important to understand that with systems such as the global conveyor belt, even small changes can be massively detrimental to the environment.

Source: http://www.carbonbrief.org/the-atlantic-conveyor-belt-and-climate-10-years-of-the-rapid-project