For several years, climate scientists have shown that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could come to a halt if the world warms too much.
For several years, climate scientists have shown that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could come to a halt if the world warms too much. New research by researchers from Utrecht University shows that this picture is incomplete: the pace of warming also determines whether the AMOC stays stable. The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, is the system of ocean currents that transports warm water from the tropics northward. It plays a major role in redistributing heat across the planet, and helps keep the climate in Western Europe relatively mild.
Scientists have long suspected that this ‘heat engine’ of the Atlantic Ocean could reach a tipping point. This means that the system would shift from its present-day strong state to a much weaker state within decades. Such a tipping event could be triggered by external influences, such as an increasing amount of meltwater from the polar regions, or global warming itself.
Read More: Utrecht University, Faculty of Science
Photo Credit: MarcMatecki via Pixabay
