health

April 27, 2026

Fate of critical ocean currents is in our hands

Andrew Watson and Phil Williamson respond to an article by George Monbiot about the weakening of a crucial Atlantic system

Fate of critical ocean currents is in our hands

TL;DR

  • A recent paper suggests scientists believe the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is more likely than not to collapse.
  • The Amoc brings significant warmth to western Europe.
  • The paper projects a potential 50% slowdown of the Amoc by the end of the century under continued fossil-fuel emissions, not a complete collapse.
  • The outcome is not certain, and sustained efforts to reduce emissions could avoid the worst scenario.
  • Exaggerating the Amoc's response to 'collapse' implies no escape from disaster, but science indicates actions can influence its fate.
  • The authors suggest a shift in terminology from 'global warming' to 'climate chaos' or 'climate catastrophe' to reflect increasing scientific concern.
  • Such climate rearrangements, while not as sudden as in fiction, could still be too rapid for effective adaptation.

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