The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a complex system of ocean currents driving warm water northwards along the ocean’s surface and cold, deep water back southwards. It not only delivers heat and nutrients to colder latitudes, it also transfers carbon to the deep ocean. Changes in the rate at which the AMOC flows have impacts around the world influencing the climate in northern Europe, rainfall in the Amazon Basin and central Africa, hurricanes in the Caribbean and monsoons in southeast Asia.
AMOC slowing
Climate models predict that the AMOC will slow down over the coming century and much research is now focussed on the mechanisms driving this change.
One of the major reasons why the AMOC is slowing down is increased freshwater entering the North Atlantic Ocean from melting ice from the Arctic and Greenland due to climate change. The current warmer, less salty surface waters are less dense so are not sinking as deep as the previously colder, more salty waters.
If you would like to find out more about this topic here are some links:
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Physics-based early warning signal shows that AMOC is on tipping course