“Climate Change Threatens Atlantic Ocean Currents, Could Disrupt Tropical Monsoons for a Century”
A new study suggests that the Atlantic Ocean currents responsible for carrying heat to the Northern Hemisphere could be at risk of grinding to a halt due to climate change. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream, acts as a vital conveyor belt of ocean currents that pumps heat and salt from the South Atlantic to the North Atlantic.
Lead author of the study, Maya Ben-Yami, a climate researcher at the Technical University of Munich in Germany, described the AMOC as a “ventilator” for the Earth’s climate system. The threat to the AMOC comes from global warming, which is melting glaciers and ice sheets, leading to an influx of fresh water into the North Atlantic. This fresh water dilutes the salinity of the top layers of water, preventing them from sinking and disrupting the circulation.
The potential collapse of the AMOC could have far-reaching impacts on global climate patterns, with the Northern Hemisphere and tropical monsoon regions being particularly vulnerable. Tropical monsoons, which rely on ocean temperatures and the AMOC, could be thrown into chaos if the circulation system falters.
The study analyzed data from climate models that simulated the effects of an AMOC collapse on tropical monsoons. The results showed that regions such as West Africa, India, East Asia, and the Amazon could experience disruptions to their rainy seasons, with delays and reductions in rainfall. The effects of an AMOC collapse on tropical monsoons were found to be irreversible for at least a century, highlighting the long-term consequences of climate change.
Ben-Yami emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change to prevent the collapse of the AMOC and the subsequent disruption of vital ocean currents. The study provides a detailed insight into the potential impacts of climate change on global climate systems and underscores the need for immediate action to mitigate these risks.