Southern 'Day After Tomorrow' effect threatens collapse of life-giving ocean currents

Southern 'Day After Tomorrow' effect threatens collapse of life-giving ocean currents
Increasing Antarctic ice melt will increasingly disrupt critical ocean currents, scientists say. (Image supplied: Australian Science Media Centre)
Greg Hurrell
Australian scientists are warning that melting Antarctic ice could lead to the collapse of critical ocean currents that could eventually starve New Zealand marine life of nutrients.In what they describe as a southern “Day After Tomorrow” effect, they predict a major ocean current originating off Antarctica’s continental shelf will weaken by more than 40% by mid-century.By the end of this century, it could collapse altogether if emissions remain as high as they are on track to be.Matthew England, deputy director of the Australi...

More Editor's Picks

Xero’s Melio ‘leap of faith’
Markets Analysis

Xero’s Melio ‘leap of faith’

The NZ-founded company’s giant-killer dreams in the US hinge on this huge bet. 

Pattrick Smellie 01 Jul 2025
Facebook is no place for risky financial investment offers
Opinion

Maria Slade: Facebook is no place for risky financial investment offers

Misleading ads continue to be thrust in the faces of Mum and Dad investors.

Maria Slade 30 Jun 2025
'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'
Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'

Adam Feeley on the reluctance to call out poor performers in NZ infrastructure sector.

Oliver Lewis 30 Jun 2025