Slowdown of Antarctic overturning, sustaining marine life, expected in the next few decades: Study

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Deep ocean currents forming around Antarctica, that impact climate, sea level and marine ecosystems around the world, are headed for a collapse, according to scientists.

Such a decline would stagnate the bottom of the oceans and affect climate and marine ecosystems for centuries to come, they said.

"Our modelling shows that if global carbon emissions continue at the current rate, then the Antarctic overturning will slow by more than 40 per cent in the next 30 years - and on a trajectory that looks headed towards collapse," said Matthew England, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia, who coordinated the international study.