Once the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) collapses, global sea levels will rise, rainfall patterns will change, and many marine ecosystems will be destroyed…
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) – a complex system of ocean currents, including the Gulf Stream, responsible for transporting heat, nutrients, and oxygen across the North Atlantic – is facing the risk of collapse, which could have far-reaching consequences for Earth.
Satellite image of the Gulf Stream as it moves through the North Atlantic – (Photo: NASA).
This warning was issued by a group of scientists in an open letter to the Nordic Council, which is meeting in the capital Reykjavik (Iceland) on October 28 and 29.
In the letter, the scientists warned that underestimating the risk of AMOC collapse could lead to catastrophic consequences for Nordic countries. Consequently, these nations will have to face extreme cold winters, extreme weather, and famine.
Globally, sea levels will rise, precipitation patterns will change, and many marine ecosystems will be destroyed. Therefore, the scientists urge Nordic leaders to pay attention to the “serious risk of major changes in the Atlantic ocean currents.”
According to the scientists, the main cause of the risk of AMOC collapse is the climate change induced by human activities. The warming of Earth’s climate disrupts ocean currents and weakens AMOC.
Scientists have raised numerous alarms about the risk of AMOC collapse, and recent studies further confirm the urgency of the issue. However, there is still no consensus on when this may occur.
The sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that AMOC will not collapse suddenly before 2100. However, in the open letter, the scientists stated that new research indicates the risk of AMOC collapse has been “significantly underestimated” and could happen in the coming decades.
