The MAOC Oceanic Currents System -its acronym in English, circulation of southern overturning of the Atlantic- runs the risk of disappearing This century due to climate change. The North Atlantic could be flooded with fresh water and the marine circulation of the planet would weaken.
This is the main conclusion that is extracted from a study conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Alfred Wegener Institute, in Germany, published Monday in the magazine Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans.
AMOC is an oceanic current that arises in the Gulf of Mexico and acts as ‘conveyor belt’: it carries the warm superficial waters from Ecuador to the north and cold and low salinity, south. This causes one hot water transfer From tropics to the Arctic. Its weakening is a hot topic among world weatherists, although it is not known with certainty what will be the consequences When ocean currents change and reach a critical point.
Céline Heuzé, from the University of Gothenburg, and Marylou Athanase and Raphael Köhler, from the Alfred Wegener Institute, studied the future of one of the main ocean currents in the Beaufort sea, located in the Arctic Ocean, north of the coasts of Alaska and Canada.
This current, known as Beaufort’s turn, is an important characteristic of the Arctic. By storing or releasing fresh water, it influences oceanic properties both in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Less sea ice
Due to temperature increase In the Arctic, Beaufort’s turn is losing large amounts of sea ice, which helps maintain the fresh ocean.
The thinner sea ice allows more atmospheric heat to pass, which increases the temperature of the sea. Previous investigations show that the freshwater content of the Beaufort sea has increased 40% in the last two decades. “The results of this study make us worry that the reduction of sea ice in the area can lead to a turning point where the amoc colpse,” says Heuzé.
In the study, the researchers conducted projections using the global climatic models which can accurately represent the Beaufort turn. “If greenhouse gas emissions are not urgently reduced, this projection suggests that the Beaufort turn will weaken and release the fresh water it currently contains. This fresh water could then reach the North Atlantic and possibly negatively affect the AMOC,” adds Athanase.
The AMOC, which is part of the Gulf’s current, is of great importance for the climate of Scandinaviasince it transports warm water to the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere.
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