Weather Insider: AMOC tipping point
The AMOC, or Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, is a critical part of the global ocean circulation. It helps transport heat and minerals across the Atlantic. The circulation is driven by differences in salinity (salt content) in the water.
However, as more ice melts across the planet, especially in the Arctic, fresh water is released. This dilutes sea water and can weaken the AMOC over time.
While a collapse of the AMOC this century is unlikely, there will likely be some major impacts by the end of the millennium. If no actions are taken, we may reach a tipping point. Once this happens, a series of drastic climatological changes will be put in motion and there will be nothing we can do to stop it.
If the AMOC were to collapse, major changes would be felt across the globe. Europe could be sent into a regional ice age, sea surface temperatures would be severely impacted, and precipitation patterns would drastically change. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what could happen if the AMOC collapsed.
