Approaching a tipping point – newly discovered signals point to Gulf Stream tipping

Dutch researchers have identified an early warning signal for the collapse of the Atlantic circulation system. A standstill would have devastating consequences for Europe. For years, signs have been mounting that the Gulf Stream is slowing down significantly as a result of global warming. The Gulf Stream is part of a vast overturning system in the Atlantic: the so-called Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is crucial for regulating the global climate and is responsible, among other things, for keeping temperatures in Europe relatively mild.

A standstill of this complex current system would have devastating consequences. What these might look like was vividly — if somewhat exaggerated — depicted in the disaster blockbuster "The Day after Tomorrow": the film, which flooded cinemas exactly 20 years ago, explored, among other things, how the Gulf Stream could lose so much salt due to melting polar ice caps that the circulation could be disrupted and a new ice age could follow. More on this at: derstandard.de

Also listen to Marc Olefs (Head of Climate Impact Research) at GeoSphere Austria on the Ö1 Morgenjournal: Climate change: Europe's heat pump collapsing sooner than expected