Atlantic Current Collapse: Climate Change Threat to Global Ocean Circulation

Recently, a study, titled “Shutdown of northern Atlantic overturning after 2100 following deep mixing collapse in CMIP6 projections” warned that the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) should no longer be considered a low-likelihood event.

• The tipping point for an inevitable shutdown could occur within a few decades, though the actual collapse may take 50–100 years.

Findings of the Study

• The AMOC, a crucial part of the ocean conveyor belt, is currently at its weakest in 1,600 years due to climate change.
• If AMOC collapses, Europe would experience severe cooling, northern hemisphere rainfall patterns would shift, and phenomena like El ....