A study by Utrecht University (Netherlands) finds that under moderate emissions, global warming may not be enough to offset the cooling caused by a potential collapse of the AMOC.
About AMOC
- Ocean Current: The AMOC is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm water north and cold water south.
- Differences in water temperature and salinity power it.
- Warm surface water moves toward the poles and cools down.
- As sea ice forms, it leaves behind salt, making surrounding water denser.
- Dense water sinks and flows southward at deep ocean levels.
- This deep water eventually rises again through upwelling, warms up, and restarts the cycle.
- Differences in water temperature and salinity power it.
- Significance:
- AMOC is part of a “global conveyor belt” of ocean currents, exchanging cool and warm water.
- Thus, it helps distribute heat, moisture, and nutrients across the oceans over long periods of time.
- Impact of Climate Change: Global warming can weaken major ocean currents, such as the AMOC.
- This occurs because the melting of Arctic ice adds cold, fresh water to the North Atlantic, thereby reducing the water's salinity and density.
- As a result, the dense water needed to sink and drive the AMOC becomes scarce.
What Happens if AMOC Weakens or Collapses?
A weakening or collapse of AMOC could become a climate tipping point, with global consequences:
- Climate Disruption: Even a slight slowdown in the AMOC can
- Cool Europe and change precipitation patterns in parts of Europe, South America, and Africa,
- Affect the timing of the Indian monsoon
- Lead the tropical rain belt to shift southward, resulting in droughts over the African Sahel
- Threat to Ocean Life: Fewer nutrients reach surface waters, harming marine food chains.
Although a full AMOC collapse is debated, its current weakening is worrying.