Atlantic Ocean currents can recover from severe climate weakening, study finds

AMOC current helps keep Europe's winters mild Other studies had suggested there was an irreversible tipping point Rise used in model is beyond current warming projections By Agnieszka Olenska and Louise Rasmussen COPENHAGEN, Oct 14 (Reuters) — An Atlantic Ocean current system weakened by global warming could recover over time if the climate cools, a study by the Danish Meteorological Institute showed on Wednesday. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation brings warm water from the tropics northward toward the Arctic, and the flow of warm water helps keep Europe's winters mild. Published in the journal Science Advances, the study found no sign there was an irreversible tipping point for AMOC, as suggested by some previous studies, although the effects of the changes could last for centuries. However, it also said that the Greenland ice sheet that contributes to weakening the AMOC as it pours cold freshwater into the ocean could not be restored once it had melted — even if the warming trend was reversed. A disrupted AMOC could still destabilise global rainfall patterns and accelerate coastal sea-level rise. No Tipping Point Leading To Collapse Seen In Model The study said the