D-2 Ocean News 3: Is #AMOC Going to Collapse from Fresh Water?

In this third episode of D-2 Oceanography and Marine Science News, also known as Ocean News 3, we begin with a focus on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the potential for its collapse due to an influx of fresh water. Specifically, Greenland’s glaciers and ice are melting at an accelerating rate, which alters the salinity and temperature of the surrounding water. This phenomenon is potentially weakening the AMOC; however, further research is necessary to draw definitive conclusions. Another significant trigger factor is the Beaufort Gyre, which experts say is accumulating and stabilizing a large volume of fresh water. Should this gyre release a substantial amount of fresh water, it could flow into the AMOC, disrupting the global current system and potentially triggering an ice age that transforms Northern Europe and North America into glacial zones once again. Furthermore, the weakened AMOC is impacting Antarctica, where increased water temperatures are accelerating the melting of glaciers from below. #AMOC