World scientists report weakening current in the Atlantic. To make matters worse, it is supposed to happen faster than they originally anticipated. For Europe, this means a weakening of sea currents, which can bring significant cooling – especially in the winter months, warn experts in the magazine.
The center of the exchange of thermally different currents in the Atlantic Ocean is also the Gulf Stream, which is now weakening and heading towards collapse. The melting of glaciers in the Arctic region is responsible for the weakening.
“In the next century, the circulation could be 33% weaker compared to its undisturbed state by human activity. Such a weakening of the Atlantic meridional circulation would significantly affect the climate and ecosystems,” warn the experts behind the study in the journal. At the current rate of glacier melting, this could happen as early as 2040, which is twenty years earlier than expected.
In Europe, according to the website, it would bring strong cooling, especially in winter. The current heats up Europe. The melting of the glaciers in eastern Greenland will play a huge role in the behavior of the marine circulation system.
The glacial water that flows into the North Atlantic dilutes the surface waters there, which leads to the formation of undercurrents, which slows down the Atlantic circulation. However, this development can still be reversed if humanity significantly limits greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and thereby stops the melting of glaciers.
