by Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
Highlights
- The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is a system of ocean currents that distributes heat energy from the tropics towards the poles and causes cold water to flow towards the equator. This system is what shaped the climate of eastern North America and Western Europe, allowing the development of civilizations in the region
- The system is weakening now more than ever within a 1000 year time span due to climate change
- This could lead to extreme weather, sea-level rise along the coasts, ocean heatwaves, droughts, and heatwaves on land
- Commercial and recreational fishing may be jeopardized due to the warming of waters along the continental shelf according to Vincent Saba of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- The last significant shutdown of the Circulation happened 11,000 years ago and resulted in major climate changes
Scientists are increasingly warning that to avoid catastrophic impacts from climate change, the world’s governments must implement policies for massive greenhouse gas emissions reductions and begin a drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere within ten years. With 9 of 15 global tipping points now active, what we do today can either unleash an inhospitable hothouse Earth or secure a safe climate well into the future. For a safe and healthy future for all, endorse the Climate-Safe California Platform to implement scalable solutions that can reverse the climate crisis.
Read More: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25022021/climate-change-ocean-currents-atlantic
Nina Turner
Energy Programs and Communications CoordinatorJanina is a graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University with experience in non-profits that specialize in sustainability and volunteerism.
