Climate change may cause a natural circulation system that regulates the Atlantic ocean’s temperature to collapse sometime between 2025 and 2095, according to a study published in Nature Communications last week. The collapse of this ocean circulation system — called the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) — could lead to northern regions such as Scandinavia having a climate similar to that of Alaska, co-author of the study Susanne Ditlevsen told The National. At the same time, tropical areas will face even hotter temperatures on top of the already damaging impacts on global warming, Ditlevsen said, adding that there will also be a greater risk of storms, more extreme weather, and altered precipitation patterns. The study was carried out based on a business-as-usual scenario in which greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, a scenario in which the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers one of the worst possible tracks.

It was not predicted to happen this century: A 2019 report by the IPCC predicted that the Amoc would weaken over this century, but that its full collapse before 2100 was unlikely, CNN reported last week. While the researchers behind the latest study think the collapse will occur between 2025 and 2095, they say it will most likely take place around mid-century.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Asia is the world’s most disaster-stricken region: The continent recorded 81 weather, climate and water-related disasters in 2022 that killed some 5k people and cost more than USD 36 bn in economic damages. The continent’s warming trend between 1991-2022 was double that of the 1961-1990 period. (World Meteorological Organization)
• Ice loss unearths remains of missing mountaineer: The loss of glaciers around Switzerland’s Matterhorn has unearthed the remains of a German mountain climber missing since 1986. (Washington Post)