<
https://theconversation.com/the-atlantic-is-at-risk-of-circulation-collapse-it-would-mean-even-greater-climate-chaos-across-europe-210570>
"Amid news of lethal heatwaves across the Northern Hemisphere comes the
daunting prospect of a climate disaster on an altogether grander scale. New
findings published in
Nature Communications suggest the Atlantic meridional
overturning circulation, or Amoc, could collapse within the next few decades –
maybe even within the next few years – driving European weather to even greater
extremes.
The Amoc amounts to a system of currents in the Atlantic that bring warm water
northwards where it then cools and sinks. It is a key reason why Europe’s
climate has been stable for thousands of years, even if it’s hard to recognise
this chaotic summer as part of that stability.
There is much uncertainty in these latest predictions and some scientists are
less convinced a collapse is imminent. Amoc is also only one part of the wider
Gulf Stream system, much of which is driven by winds that will continue to blow
even if the Amoc collapses. So part of the Gulf Stream will survive an Amoc
collapse.
But I have studied the links between Atlantic currents and the climate for
decades now, and know that an Amoc collapse would still lead to even greater
climate chaos across Europe and beyond. At minimum, it is a risk worth being
aware of."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
