Major Atlantic ocean current system might be approaching critical threshold

Read the full story from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

The major Atlantic ocean current, to which also the Gulf stream belongs, may have been losing stability in the course of the last century. This is shown in a new study published in Nature Climate Change. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, transports warm water masses from the tropics northward at the ocean surface and cold water southward at the ocean bottom, which is most relevant for the relatively mild temperatures in Europe. Further, it influences weather systems worldwide. A potential collapse of this ocean current system could therefore have severe consequences.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.