The current Atlantic Ocean system, which is the northern hemisphere’s climate “machine”, could weaken due to climate change. This has a detrimental effect on the world's weather.
One scientific study says major changes in weather include cold in Europe and parts of North America, as well as sea level rise in some parts.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), is part of a large ocean current system, known as the Gulf Stream, that transports warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic.
Climate models show that AMOC is at its weakest level in more than 1,000 years. However, it is not known whether the weakness is due to changes in blood circulation or due to loss of stability. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, says the differences are very significant.
“The loss of dynamic stability would imply that AMOC is approaching its critical threshold, beyond a large and practical transition to a weak mode can occur,” said Niklas Boers of the Potstdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
By analyzing sea surface temperatures and salinity patterns in the Atlantic Ocean, studies show that AMOC weaknesses over the past century are most likely related to loss of stability.
“These findings support the assessment that a decrease in AMOC is not simply a fluctuation or linear response to an increase in temperature, but likely means approaching a critical threshold at which the circulatory system can collapse,” Boers said.
If the AMOC collapses, there will be a significant cooling of temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, sea level rise in the Atlantic, an overall decrease in rainfall in Europe and North America and a shift of monsoons in South America and Africa.
Other climate models say that AMOC will weaken in the next few centuries, but a collapse before 2100 is predicted to be unlikely. However, the researchers continue to remind them to be vigilant and vigilant.
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