New Study: AMOC Shutdown May Be Gradual

New GCM reasearch out of Oregon State University finds that a climate-change-induced shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may occur more gradually than previously predicted.

Research indicates ocean current shutdown may be gradual

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The findings of a major new study are consistent with gradual changes of current systems in the North Atlantic Ocean, rather than a more sudden shutdown that could lead to rapid climate changes in Europe and elsewhere.

The research, based on the longest experiment of its type ever run on a "general circulation model" that simulated the Earth's climate for 21,000 years back to the height of the last Ice Age, shows that major changes in these important ocean current systems can occur, but they may take place more slowly and gradually than had been suggested.

Read the entire press release at the OSU College of Science.