Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout

Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout

The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded, making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact.

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a major part of the global climate system. It brings sun-warmed tropical water to Europe and the Arctic, where it cools and sinks to form a deep return current. The Amoc was already known to be at its weakest in 1,600 years as a result of the climate crisis.

Climate models recently indicated that a collapse before 2100 was unlikely but the new analysis examined models that were run for longer, to 2300 and 2500. These show the tipping point that makes an Amoc shutdown inevitable is likely to be passed within a few decades, but that the collapse itself may not happen until 50 to 100 years later.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    5 days ago

    50 to 100 years from now? … phew… i can rest easy now … at least all I have to worry about in my lifetime is extreme heat and hurricanes … I’ll let the next generation worry about the mid Atlantic Ocean current failing

    Hey it might even start a mini ice age … which would be a good thing because of the global warming right?

    • ExLisperAEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      This current brings warmer weather to Europe so it will get colder when it collapses. I think Europe should make collapsing this current their official climate change mitigation policy. No one else affected is really interested in doing anything to stop it anyway.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      5 days ago

      Hey it might even start a mini ice age

      Circulating the hot air north into cooler climates brings rain and snow to what would otherwise be a dry North American inland. A collapse in the current wouldn’t change the prevailing climate, just the distribution of heat between regions. You’d end up with these ugly Atlantic hot spots paralleled by dry tundras up north. But the planet wouldn’t cool as a result. If anything, the resulting desertification would contribute to the warming cycle.