this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2023
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Researchers have predicted the collapse of the AMOC could happen any time between 2025 and 2095 — far sooner than previous predictions, although not all scientists are convinced.

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What if...

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

What would this result in, if this happens?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

I asked Bing chat a similar question. Here the sobering answer:

The Gulf Stream is a crucial system of ocean currents that plays a vital role in Earth's climate. If it were to collapse, the consequences would be significant and abrupt. Some of the potential consequences include:

  • Fast sea level rise in the Atlantic¹
  • More extreme winters in Western Europe¹
  • Disruptions to monsoon systems in the tropics¹
  • Greater cooling and more powerful storms across the Northern Hemisphere¹
  • Severe disruption to the rain that billions of people rely upon to grow crops in Africa, South America, and India¹
  • Extreme cold to Europe and parts of North America¹
  • Raised sea levels along the U.S. East Coast¹
  • Endangerment of the Amazon rainforest and Antarctic ice sheets¹

It is important to note that scientists are warning that the Gulf Stream could collapse at any time². The shutdown of this ocean current could lead to serious consequences globally, impacting heat and rainfall distribution². A major Atlantic current could collapse by midcentury as a result of climate change, prompting extreme cold in Europe and sea level rise along the eastern coast of the U.S., according to a study³. It is crucial that we take action to prevent this from happening.

(1) Gulf Stream: A crucial system of ocean currents is showing signs of .... https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/world/climate-gulf-stream-collapse-warning-study-intl/index.html.

(2) Atlantic Ocean currents system could collapse this century from climate change: study. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4118630-atlantic-ocean-currents-system-collapse-climate-change/.

(3) The Gulf Stream Is in Danger of Collapsing as Early as 2025. https://www.theinertia.com/environment/gulf-stream-collapse-2025/.

(4) Gulf stream could collapse as early as 2025, study suggests. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/25/gulf-stream-could-collapse-as-early-as-2025-study-suggests.

(5) Scientists Are Warning of Gulf Stream Collapse | Futurism. https://futurism.com/collapse-ocean-currents-freeze-north-america-europe.

Edit: deleted a dead link

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Those are all the problems for places that don't get the heat the AMOC moves. It doesn't list the problem for the places where that heat doesn't leave.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

So nothing major right? Business as usual.