Potential Collapse of Atlantic Ocean Current Could Release Massive Carbon
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial ocean current system, is slowing due to global warming caused by human carbon emissions. This system, which includes the Gulf Stream, plays a vital role in warming Europe. If the AMOC were to collapse entirely, it could lead to the release of hundreds of billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the deep Southern Ocean into the atmosphere, further exacerbating global warming. Recent computer models indicate that such a collapse could emit up to 640 billion tonnes of CO2 near Antarctica, potentially increasing global temperatures by an additional 0.2°C. The study, led by Da Nian at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, highlights the severe implications of an AMOC collapse, which could trigger significant environmental changes.