Scientists warn Atlantic current at risk of shutting down
3 hours ago
- #Ocean Currents
- #Climate Tipping Point
- #AMOC Collapse
- Iceland designated the risk of an AMOC shutdown as a national security threat due to its catastrophic modeled consequences.
- The AMOC slowdown is driven by climate change-induced warming and freshening of northern waters, reducing water density and sinking, potentially leading to a tipping point and collapse.
- Recent studies suggest a higher risk of AMOC collapse than earlier IPCC estimates, with some predicting a 50% slowdown by 2100 and possible tipping points within decades.
- Evidence includes two decades of ocean data showing a slowdown trend, though natural variability and model uncertainties complicate predictions.
- An AMOC collapse could lock the Atlantic into an 'off' state for centuries, with severe impacts on global climate, monsoons, and carbon release.
- Research highlights the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the risk, regardless of exact probabilities.