The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is involved in everything from storing carbon to guarding Antarctica from invasive marine species, and a slower current could have far-reaching consequences

In a nutshell • The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Earth’s strongest ocean current, is projected to weaken by about 20% by 2050 due to freshwater from melting Antarctic ice sheets. • Unlike previous predictions that suggested the current would strengthen with climate change,

Melting ice sheets are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world's strongest ocean current, researchers have found. This melting has implications for global climate indicators, including sea level rise,