"Scientists fear a critical Atlantic Ocean system might collapse"

[Kaleva]

"Scientists fear a critical Atlantic Ocean system might collapse, triggering 'extreme cold' and sea level rise

Scientists are worried the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a "critical aquatic conveyer belt" that drives currents in the Atlantic Ocean, is at risk of near-complete collapse due to climate change, The Washington Post reports.

A shutdown of the crucial circulation system could "bring extreme cold to Europe and parts of North America, raise sea levels along the U.S. East Coast, and disrupt seasonal monsoons that provide water to much of the world," the Post reports. The effects, in short, would be devastating.

"The mere possibility that the AMOC tipping point is close should be enough for us to take countermeasures," warns Levke Caesar, a climate physicist at Maynooth University."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-fear-critical-atlantic-ocean-214801130.html

[roamer65]

1. Berlin, Germany is as north as James Bay in Ontario, Canada.

Imagine the weather in Berlin if this happens.

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. I'm not sure how many people realize that the southernmost major city in Europe....

Athens - is about the same latitude as Washington D.C.

The vast majority of Europe is where Canada is on the planet.

[Grasswire2]

2. things are getting interesting.

I wonder where the extreme cold would come in N.A.

[Doc Sportello]

3. That's the triggering event in The Day After Tomorrow film

Setting off a climate catastrophe. Whether it's scientifically accurate or possible I don't know, but most of the northern hemisphere was frozen over in a matter of days. Sleep well.

[Lisa0825]

4. That is exactly what I thought of. nt

[Doc Sportello]

5. For those who have seen the movie ...

... it definitely adds to the anxiety meter. Mexico is looking better and better.

[appalachiablue]

7. Clip, The Day After Tomorrow movie, whoa!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. That movie is hilariously bad.

At one point it shows instant freezing of everything. Just not possible.

Yeah, climate change is real and it's not good, but it will be NOTHING like that movie.

[Dial H For Hero]

17. I recall a climatologist saying it was to climatology what "Frankenstein" was to brain surgery.

[maryellen99]

18. No joke but The Day After Tomorrow was based off a book by Art Bell

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coming_Global_Superstorm

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. Art Bell. Such a reliable source.

[Lisa0825]

6. Scientists have called the movie wildly inaccurate, but I see the current effects of climate change,

and how disruptive it has already been, and feel like it doesn't have to be a sudden, cataclysmic change (like in the movie) to cause worldwide suffering. It doesn't have to be a new ice age to change life as we know it. Just look at the dramatically increased wildfires in the west, and the almost annual "hundred-year floods" in the Houston area, among others.

The most terrifying question, though, is have we reached the point of no-return?

[Doc Sportello]

11. Good points

Like you said, we have already seen how calamitous the effects have been without something as dramatic as the collapse of the AMOC. I don't like to talk about it with people (especially those with children) but I'm afraid we have reached the point of no return. I read another story the other day about climate scientists preparing to head for the safest place they could find. They might as well. The world isn't taking the actions needed anyway.

[NewHendoLib]

8. we don't seem to have the ability to move beyond our greed, politics, and pettiness to survive.

I am just fucking disgusted with our species. we deserve whatever is coming for us.

[Doc Sportello]

12. George Carlin said our species is just circling the drain

It's just coming faster than many expected. I too am disgusted. Growing up in the 60s I was optimistic going forward despite the history of mankind. Oh well.

[NewHendoLib]

14. yes. I am 65. the Dubya years made me realize we are toast

[orleans]

10. i am nearing/at a point of hopelessness when it comes to the environment nt

[smirkymonkey]

15. You aren't the only one.

I just can't see how it's going to get any better. I think it's too late.

[Lisa0825]

22. I used to want children. Now in my 50s, I am glad I didn't have any so I don't have to

worry about what the world will be like for them.

[nitpicker]

16. Link to The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/05/climate-crisis-scientists-spot-warning-signs-of-gulf-stream-collapse

[LeftInTX]

21. They're been saying this for years....