{"id":67104,"date":"2024-11-06T10:21:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=67104"},"modified":"2025-05-20T12:52:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T00:52:03","slug":"weakening-or-collapse-of-a-major-atlantic-current-called-amoc-has-disrupted-nzs-climate-in-the-past-and-could-do-so-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/weakening-or-collapse-of-a-major-atlantic-current-called-amoc-has-disrupted-nzs-climate-in-the-past-and-could-do-so-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Weakening or collapse of a major Atlantic current called AMOC has disrupted NZ\u2019s climate in the past \u2013 and could do so\u00a0again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recent assessments<\/a> suggest the ocean current known as Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC<\/a>) is slowing down, with collapse a real possibility<\/a> this century.<\/p>\n\n

\"Glacier
Shaun Eaves, CC BY-SA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The AMOC is a globally important current<\/a> in the Atlantic Ocean, where surface water moves northward as part of the Gulf Stream and transports warm water towards the Arctic. There it cools and sinks to return southward as a deep ocean current.<\/p>\n\n

\"Map
The Atlantic meridional overturning current (AMOC) transfers heat to the North Atlantic. Recent trends indicate this current may be slowing. Ruijian Gou, CC BY-ND<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Collapse of the AMOC would have a devastating effect on climate in Europe. Temperatures in the UK and Scandinavia could drop by 5\u201315\u00b0C in a matter of decades<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

However, because Earth\u2019s climate system is interconnected, these impacts could have a global reach. Our new research<\/a> shows past changes in AMOC have had significant impact on temperatures in New Zealand and across the southern hemisphere. These results imply that future collapse of AMOC may accelerate ongoing warming trends.<\/p>\n