The LA Times is running a feel-good piece about the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of ocean currents that circulate water in the Atlantic, redistributing heat and regulating regional and global climates. And, shockingly, the news isn’t good. According to new data the system, which is a feedback loop of fresh water vs salinity, is in decline and could reach a tipping point that would result in “hugely chaotic changes in global weather patterns” like plunging Europe into an Ice Age (decimating agriculture), flipping the wet and dry seasons of the Amazon rainforest (pushing it to its own tipping point), raising sea levels, while allowing the rest of the world to continue on baking uninhibited. In short, not great.
The silver lining is that, as of now, scientists believe the probability of the system totally collapsing are relative low – in the neighborhood of 5-10%. But when you’re talking about an irreversible meteorological phenomenon that would “tear at the fabric of civilization” it’s not a number anyone should feel comfortable with.
Now, choose “Prime Delivery Day (fewer trips)” on your next Amazon order and give yourself a big pat on the back. You’ve done all you can to save the planet.