(female) The oceans play a vital role in the earth's climate. They cause precipitation and affect the regional temperatures.

(Describer) In science class...

[sighs]

It's like an oven in here. I've got it. Halloween costume. Pizzaman. Pizzaman? Like-- Like a pizza delivery guy? No, no, like a superhero. Like, uh, Batman, Aquaman... Pizzaman.

(Describer) Autumn raises her hand.

Can we turn on a fan? We need some oxygen back here. Turning on a fan will not increase oxygen. It will simply move the existing air, causing increased evaporation of water from your skin. Fans do not actually change the temperature or composition of the air. Duh. Well...can we turn on a fan because it's really hot back here? Bruce, would you mind plugging in the fan, please?

(Describer) He walks off.

Now, as I was saying, the currents in the thermohaline circulation system move due to convection in the oceans. This powers the entire cycle. Are these fish things supposed to be plugged in? Yes. Thank you, Bruce. The warmth of the heater and the flow of the water are very important for the fish to survive.

(Describer) Plugging in the fan and an aquarium motor, he stares into the aquarium, then daydreams he’s swimming underwater.

[water gurgling]

Whoa! This is cool. Where am I? Oh, hi, super-big turtle.

(female #2) Bruce Rain, the thermohaline circulation system has stopped flowing. [needle scratches record vinyl]

(Bruce) The what?

(female #2) The thermohaline circulation system. We need you to get back in motion or the survival of many creatures will be threatened. That sounds serious.

(female #2) It is, Bruce. All types of life-forms rely on the thermohaline circulation system to live. Take this H2O pad to direct your path. I'm on it.

(Describer) Carrying a digital tablet, he keeps swimming.

This w-w-water's awfully c-c-cold, D-Dr. Mother Nature. Well, the part of the thermohaline circulation system you are in right now is a deepwater current. Wh-Wh-Why? You tell me. What do you know about heat and its relationship to space? It rises. Wrong. This is a common misconception. Heat is not a thing and cannot change location. Heat is not a thing? Are you serious? Are you trying to keep my mind off the c-cold? No. Heat is the transfer of energy. More specifically, heat is the transfer of energy from areas or objects of higher temperature to areas or objects of lower temperature. Wow. Cool. I mean...heat. So, tell me, Mr. Rain, since heat is the transfer of energy, what do you know about heat and its relationship to liquids and gases? I know energy can create, like, waves. Yes, something like waves. Currents? Exactly. Uneven heating causes currents in liquids and gases. And how does that happen in this particular case? Because warm water's less dense than c-c-cold? Correct. Since these waters are colder, they are more dense. But there's something else weighing them down too. I think I know what it is. What do you think it-- French fries!

(Describer) A plate appears.

Where did you get French fries? It's my d-daydream, and I get French fries, because I knew you were gonna say... Salt. When saltwater freezes, the freshwater turns into ice and the salt separates. The remaining salt falls beneath the frozen layer, making the water even saltier. Very good, Bruce. Yum! French fries. Why is that fish wearing an oxygen mask?

You tell me. It's your daydream. Because it needs oxygen. Exactly. That's why we need you to get the thermohaline circulation system moving again-- because it provides deep-sea creatures with the oxygen they need to survive.

That's only one problem with this malfunction. Only one? What other problems are there? Keep swimming the path on the map, and I'll show you.

(Describer) He does, still holding the plate of french fries.

This is quite the journey. It is estimated that it takes about 1,000 years for this cycle to be completed.

(Bruce) A thousand years? I'm gonna need more French fries. The thermohaline circulation system moves about 100 times more water than the flow of the Amazon River. Wow, this water's getting much warmer.

(Describer) He eats.

What's happening? This is the part where the deep water rises. It's not as dense anymore. It carries nutrient-rich water with carbon dioxide that aids in phytoplankton and sea plant growth, which then provides 50% to 85% of oxygen to the air. But since the system isn't flowing, that's not the case anymore. How can I fix this problem? Use your speed to swim the path to get it back in motion. You can count on me. You're doing it.

(Describer) He swims faster.

The water's starting to move more freely. Whoa! What was that gnarly drop? That was the water density change near the polar region. It acts as the powerhouse for the thermohaline circulation system. Awesome. But now I'm all warmed up, and you can't stop me now.

(Describer) He eats more fries and keeps swimming.

And this year's winner of the thermohaline circulation cross-ocean swim-off is...Bruce Rain. Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce! Bruce. Bruce. Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce... Bruce? Bruce.

(Describer) In class...

Are you paying attention? Yeah, of course. Perhaps you can tell us how the earth might be affected if we didn't have the thermohaline circulation system. Important things wouldn't flow through the water, like nutrients. They would sit at the bottom of the ocean.

(Describer) He goes to his desk.

Surface creatures wouldn't get enough nutrients in order to survive, and deep-sea creatures wouldn't get enough oxygen to survive. Very good, Bruce. Hey, where'd you get those fries?

(Describer) He drops one on Autumn’s open book.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

(Describer) Title: WOUB Public Media. Copyright 2017Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.