In the 2004 film ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, most of Earth’s northern hemisphere is smothered in a blanket of snow when Earth’s system of ocean currents collapses . Although consigned to the world of sci-fi for now, scientists fear that this disastrous event could actually one day be possible. A new study by experts at University of Gothenburg and the German Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that rapidly melting freshwater ice in the Arctic could be one cause. This melted ice could weaken or even cause a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) – Earth’s vast system of ocean currents. Described as ‘the conveyor belt of the ocean’, AMOC transports warm water near the ocean’s surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere, keeping Europe, the UK and the US east coast temperate. If and when AMOC does collapse, much of the northern hemisphere, including Europe and North America, could experience harsh, freezing cold winters . But study author Dr Céline Heuzé, senior lecturer in climatology at the University of Gothenburg, said it’s ‘scary’ that the exact effects of weaker global ocean circulation are as yet unknown. ‘The results of this study make us concerned that the reduction of sea ice in the area could lead to a tipping point where the AMOC collapses,’ said Dr Heuzé. How the Atlantic Ocean’s ‘giant conveyor belt’ works Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) 02. As it reaches the North Atlantic, the water cools and becomes saltier 03. This water becomes denser as it cools, forcing it to sink to the bottom of the ocean Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean 01. Warm water travels north from the tropics, hitting the sea ice around Greenland and the Nordic countries Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean 04. The water then flows south, before warming and […]