Scientists have warned that the Gulf Stream, a critical ocean current that drives warm water towards Europe, could collapse, triggering a mini ice age by 2025.
A study published in Science Advances journal has predicted a systemic collapse of the Atlantic Ocean currents, setting off a chain of reactions acorss the Earth.
The study attributes this to the faster-than-expected melt-off of Greenland’s glaciers and Arctic ice sheets, which pours freshwater into the sea and obstructs the sinking of saltier, warmer water from the south.
It states that the absence of this water current could drop temperatures across North America, certain parts of Asia, and Europe, potentially plummeting by as much as 10 degrees Celsius within a few decades.
The study estimates a timeframe for the Gulf Stream's potential collapse ranging from 2025 to 2095, with a central estimate of 2050 if global carbon emissions remain unchecked.
Using computer models and past data, the researchers developed an early warning indicator for the breakdown of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc), a vast system of ocean currents that is a key component in global climate regulation, reports the Guardian.
They found Amoc is already on track towards an abrupt shift, which has not happened for more than 10,000 years and would have dire implications for large parts of the world.
“This is bad news for the climate system and humanity as up till now one could think that Amoc tipping was only a theoretical concept and tipping would disappear as soon as the full climate system, with all its additional feedbacks, was considered,” the paper stated.