The system of currents in the Atlantic, among them the Gulf Stream, is at risk of collapse due to the influx of fresh water from melting glaciers, according to a study in the Netherlands.
However, the theories are disputed.
When the tipping point is reached, it can mean rapid and dramatic changes to the climate.
– In Sweden, for example, we see temperatures falling by up to 20 degrees within a century, says René van Westen, researcher at the University of Utrecht and lead author of the study. to SVT News.
The Gulf Stream contributes to the relatively mild climate in Scandinavia. According to the climate models developed by the researchers, the temperature in Sweden drops by an average of ten degrees when the power system collapses. Early warning signs of this were seen in the computer models.
The study analyzes data from the atmosphere, sea and land. It does not give an answer as to when the collapse may take place – but probably within 100 years.
The study has been published in the journal Science Advances.
Similar studies have been published previously, including in 2021 and last year. According to these, we would have stormier weather and the temperatures in the Nordics would drop by 5-10 degrees. The winters would often be extremely cold. On the other hand, some results suggested that summers in Europe could be warmer than today if the Gulf Stream slowed down.
It should also be pointed out that the importance of the Gulf Stream for Europe’s climate is disputed. Some researchers believe it has been exaggerated. There are many other factors that contribute to our relatively mild climate, primarily the transport of warm air north by air currents.