Ocean Currents
A new modelling study indicates that a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is causing the Gulf Stream to drift northwards, with satellite data showing a 50-kilometre shift over 30 years. Researchers suggest this gradual change could precede an abrupt move serving as an early warning for a potential AMOC collapse. Such a collapse might lead to drastic cooling in Europe, though timelines remain uncertain.
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A study uncovers how East Antarctica's ice sheet collapsed rapidly around 9,000 years ago due to warm ocean currents. This event triggered a self-reinforcing feedback loop that spread ice loss across the continent. The findings highlight potential instabilities in modern Antarctic ice under climate change.