2 studies warn infamous AMOC ocean current is in trouble
USA Today • • world
Key Points:
- Recent studies confirm the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a vital Atlantic ocean current, has been weakening over the past 20 years and may weaken by 50% by 2100, potentially leading to collapse.
- The AMOC regulates climate by moving warm, salty water northward and cold water southward, affecting temperatures in northern Europe and the eastern U.S.; its collapse could trigger abrupt, irreversible global climate disruptions.
- Scientists warn the AMOC is approaching a tipping point, where continued weakening could lead to collapse within about 140 years, though accelerated weakening is possible.
- A weakened AMOC would cause cooler North Atlantic temperatures, increased winter storms in Europe, reduced summer rainfall in parts of Africa and Asia, and accelerated sea-level rise along the U.S. northeast coast.
- The primary cause of AMOC weakening is climate change, which disrupts ocean water density and circulation through warming and freshwater influx from melting ice; reducing carbon emissions and monitoring the AMOC are critical to mitigating risks.
