A vital system of Atlantic Ocean currents is weakening and closer to collapse than thought, new studies find

Key Points:

• Two new studies reveal the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial ocean current system, is weakening faster than previously thought and may collapse within decades, posing severe risks to global climate and weather patterns.
• The AMOC transports heat, salt, and freshwater across the Atlantic, influencing sea levels, weather, and climate; its collapse could trigger extreme winters in Europe, rising sea levels on the US East Coast, and prolonged droughts in Africa.
• Recent research combining climate models with real-world data shows the AMOC is likely to weaken by more than 50% by century’s end, a decline significantly greater than most models predict, with some pessimistic models considered more realistic.
• Observations from the University of Miami confirm the AMOC has been weakening over the past 20 years at multiple locations, validating model predictions and highlighting the urgency of the issue.
• Experts warn that current projections underestimate the AMOC’s decline and the risk of reaching a tipping point, where shutdown becomes irreversible, emphasizing the critical need for monitoring and climate action.