Weak Atlantic Conveyor Could Cool Europe While Accelerating Global Warming
TL;DR
A new Nature Geoscience study finds the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is weakening; if it collapses, Northern Europe could cool by about 5–15°C (9–27°F), but the global climate may warm overall as heat builds up in the ocean when the circulation slows. Greenland ice melt adds freshwater that further slows the current, and past weak periods tend to redistribute heat rather than reduce total planetary heat, suggesting a potential net increase in global warming as temperatures rise.
Topics:science#amoc#atlantic-meridional-overturning-circulation#climate-change#global-warming#ocean-currents#science
- Collapse of Atlantic Currents Could Drive a Surge in Warming Yale E360
- A weakening Atlantic Ocean current system could accelerate Earth's warming Phys.org
- Failure to track a stable AMOC state under rapid climate change Nature
- The Giant AMOC Ocean Currents Act Like A “Heat Valve” On Earth’s Temperature Gauge IFLScience
- The pace of climate change matters more than overall heat in the race to save key Atlantic currents, study finds Live Science
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