LONDON, UK – A recent study has found alarming evidence that one of Earth’s major ocean currents is rapidly approaching a collapse. The study, published in Science Advances, warns that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is on a dangerous trajectory towards a tipping point.
Researchers from Utrecht University have developed an early warning system to detect when the AMOC ‘tipping point’ is near: a decline in salinity at the southernmost boundary of the Atlantic. This system provides a glimpse into the future and could potentially help societies prepare for the impending changes.
The AMOC is a crucial system of ocean currents that transfers warm salty water northward, impacting much of Earth’s climate. However, the current has been slowing down significantly since the mid-1900s, and the new data suggests that it is more sensitive to changes than previously thought.
According to the researchers, once a threshold is reached, the tipping point is likely to follow within one to four decades. This rapid decline in the AMOC could have catastrophic effects on global climate, disrupting tropical monsoons and impacting food security.
The study also confirms past concerns that climate models may have underestimated the instability of the AMOC. This has led to rising concerns about an AMOC collapse in the not too distant future, with significant implications for global weather patterns and ecosystems.
The potential collapse of the AMOC has far-reaching implications, as past occurrences have led to drastic shifts in global climate, impacting temperatures in northwestern Europe and disrupting ecosystems. This research sheds light on the urgency of addressing the potential collapse of the AMOC and its potential impacts on a global scale.