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Is the AMOC Running AMOK?
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and Its Climate Implications
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The term “running amok” originates from Malay society, describing a state of wild, uncontrollable behaviour. When applied to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), it reflects concerns about this vital ocean current system’s unpredictable and potentially dangerous changes in response to climate change.
What is the AMOC?
The AMOC is a crucial ocean circulation system that regulates Earth’s climate. It moves warm surface water from the equator toward the North Atlantic and returns cold, dense water southward beneath the surface. This process helps maintain the climate in North America and Europe by redistributing heat.
In simple terms, the warm waters travel northward at the surface, cooling and sinking in the North Atlantic, while colder water rises in other regions, creating a continuous flow. This dynamic balance is fundamental to maintaining the global climate system.
The AMOC’s Vulnerability
However, the AMOC is highly sensitive to climate change. Rising temperatures from increasing greenhouse gas emissions are reducing the ocean’s ability to lose heat, weakening one of the key forces driving the AMOC…
