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A vital Atlantic current is on the brink of collapsing and it is being warned that it could catapult millions of people across the US into a ‘never-ending’ winter.
The ocean current plays an important role in stopping the world from freezing over but now experts warn that it could completely vanish.
This comes after a team of researchers discovered that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could be on the brink of collapse and might no longer function by the year 2100.
The current moves warm water from the tropics to the north Atlantic ocean, and as a result, ensures that northeastern US and northwestern Europe don’t drop too cold over the winter months.
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But if the current was no longer there, then this could have disastrous consequences including colder winters, drier summers and rising sea levels.
Experts are warning that this collapse of the current could be due to climate change and a new study has found that cutting emissions might be needed in order to save the current.
This comes as simulations found that high greenhouse gases would result in the current disappearing by 2100.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Stefan Rahmstorf, who is from the University of Potsdam, said: “In the simulations, the tipping point in key North Atlantic seas typically occurs in the next few decades, which is very concerning.”
Sybren Drijfhout, who is from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and also the lead author of the study, continued: “The deep overturning in the northern Atlantic slows drastically by 2100 and completely shuts off thereafter in all high-emission scenarios, and even in some intermediate and low-emission scenarios.”
In a statement, Drijfhout went on to warn: “That shows the shutdown risk is more serious than many people realize.”
Rahmstorf added: “A drastic weakening and shutdown of this ocean current system would have severe consequences worldwide. In the models, the currents fully wind down 50 to 100 years after the tipping point is breached.
“But this may well underestimate the risk: these standard models do not include the extra fresh water from ice loss in Greenland, which would likely push the system even further.
“This is why it is crucial to cut emissions fast. It would greatly reduce the risk of an AMOC shutdown, even though it is too late to eliminate it completely.”
According to the experts, if action isn’t taken soon, the world as we know it could change forever.
