Study warns of 'irreversible transition' in ocean currents that could rapidly freeze parts of North America.
If this circulation shuts down, it could bring extreme cold to Europe and parts of North America.
"It’s one of those events that should not happen, and we should try all that we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible.".
A large system of ocean currents in the Atlantic – which includes the Gulf Stream – has been disrupted due to human-caused climate change, scientists reported in a new study published Thursday.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, transports warm, salty water from the tropics northward at the ocean surface and cold water southward at the ocean bottom.
At the time, study authors said a collapse was at least decades away but would be a catastrophe.
A potential collapse of this ocean current system would have severe consequences around the globe, authors of the new study said. »
