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] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What would this result in, if this happens?

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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) The Gulf Stream could collapse at 'any time'. https://www.msn.com/en-au/weather/topstories/the-gulf-stream-could-collapse-at-any-time/ss-AA1elwYA.

(3) 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/.

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

(5) 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.

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

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So nothing major right? Business as usual.

[–] Elderos 13 points 1 year ago

I don't know about the former, but yes to the latter.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year 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.