Atlantic Current Collapse More Likely Than Feared
New research indicates a critical Atlantic current system, the Amoc, is significantly more likely to collapse than previously understood. Scientists found that climate models predicting the largest slowdown are the most realistic, suggesting an estimated slowdown of 42% to 58% by 2100, a level almost certain to end in collapse. Such a collapse would have catastrophic consequences, including shifts in tropical rainfall, extreme weather in Europe, and significant sea-level rise. The weakening is attributed to Arctic warming due to global heating, which slows the sinking of cooler, saltier water.
John Q. Hosedrinker