#ClimateCrisis "A ‘monster web’ of ocean currents is set to collapse. And the US is not prepared Off the east coast of Greenland, scientists are studying the fate of the Atlantic Ocean circulation. Others are looking to prevent disaster (. . .) Known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), it plays a central role in controlling the Earth’s climate, transferring heat from the tropics to the north. This system helps power the Gulf Stream and is credited with regulating Europe’s temperatures, as well as being a key player in global climate stability. One of the drivers of global ocean circulation, including the AMOC, is the sinking of dense water masses near the poles. (. . .) But ocean warming and freshening of the subpolar seas near Greenland, caused by melting ice and increasing rainfalls, is making it harder for surface waters to sink. As CO2 emissions continue to rise and climate change accelerates, scientists are more and more concerned that the AMOC is slowing down – and that it could weaken by up to 50 per cent by the end of the 21st century. What’s worse, this vital current system might be nearing a tipping point. Beyond this point, a rapid decline could potentially lead to its collapse – and the effects could be widespread." https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/atlantic-ocean-circulation-disaster