A recent study by international researchers in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the UK has warned that climate change could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This powerful ocean current system plays a crucial role in balancing the planet’s climate, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
The AMOC is under threat due to changes in the Arctic’s Beaufort Gyre, a major ocean current that could allow freshwater into the North Atlantic. Scientists are concerned that if this happens, it could trigger a chain of events that would lead to the collapse of the AMOC.
According to Dr. Céline Heuzé, a senior lecturer in climatology at the University of Gothenburg, the study’s findings suggest that sea ice reduction in the Arctic could be the tipping point for the AMOC collapse. The researchers predict that the Beaufort Gyre will shrink under a warmer climate, leading to increased freshwater input into the North Atlantic.
If this happens, it could have severe consequences, including rising sea levels, more severe storms, and changes to global weather patterns. Climate experts describe this as a “climate tipping point” – an event that would lead to sudden, wide-reaching impacts with difficult reversibility.
While there is no clear solution yet, reducing heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere could help prevent the collapse of the AMOC. This can be achieved through significant reductions in dirty energy sources and changes to individual behaviors, such as replacing old HVAC systems with heat pumps and installing solar panels.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-issue-dire-warning-making-111549688.html