25/02/2026 – The Gulf Stream and the Carbon Cycle

C-Streams is proud to release a video to present the background to our work: check out the C-Streams video.

We are all aware of how the Gulf Stream is important in the transfer of heat in the climate system. In this video, we explore our view that the Gulf Stream plays a similarly important role in the ocean carbon cycle.

Gliders in research

The Gulf Stream transports nutrients and waters that can uptake carbon at depth, when these waters reach the surface at high latitudes there is an uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Thus, in our view, the Gulf Stream helps determine the downstream carbon sink for the North Atlantic.

This video is related to our recent publication in Communications Earth & Environment.

C-Streams will also seek to communicate the importance of the overturning circulation/Gulf Stream in regulating carbon uptake through the generation of new multimedia outputs. This will include the production of two short documentary-style features, in collaboration with Tilling Creative:

  • The first will cover aspects of the work being undertaken in C-Streams and why, including the use of cutting-edge of observational technologies and the importance of supporting such sustained monitoring systems. This will be aimed at the general public.
  • The second will emerge towards the end of the project, summarising the new insight produced and emphasising the importance of the Gulf Stream for ocean carbon uptake. This will be aimed at policy makers.

These new media will appear here in due course.