A key system of ocean currents in the Atlantic is weakening faster than previously thought and may be approaching a tipping point, this according to two new studies. Scientists warn that continued weakening, driven largely by human-induced climate change, could have severe global consequences.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate by transporting heat, salt, and freshwater across the ocean. The latest research, published in Science Advances on April 16, suggests the slowdown may be significantly underestimated, with researchers finding the AMOC could weaken by more than 50% by the end of the century.
A separate study by the University of Miami also found consistent weakening across multiple points in the North Atlantic, reinforcing concerns that the system is already in decline.
A collapse of the AMOC could trigger extreme weather shifts, including colder conditions in Europe, rising sea levels along the US East Coast, and prolonged droughts in parts of Africa.
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