The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation:
New research indicates the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could weaken by up to 59% by 2100, far more severely than previous estimates of 15%.The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a vast system of ocean currents that acts as a massive, invisible conveyor belt for the planet. It is a critical component of Earth’s climate system, responsible for moving heat and regulating temperatures across the globe.
This system is primarily located in the Atlantic Ocean, spanning from the tropical regions to the freezing Arctic waters near Greenland.
The circulation is driven by differences in water temperature and salt levels (density):
- Surface Flow: Warm, salty water from the tropics flows north toward Greenland.
- Cooling and Sinking: As it reaches the Arctic, the water cools, becomes denser, and sinks several kilometers into the deep ocean.
- Deep Flow: This cold water drifts back south as a deep-water current.
- Rising: Eventually, the water rises back to the surface to warm up and restart the thousand-year loop.
