Volcanic eruptions in the distant past may have led to ocean current collapse
A massive volcanic eruption can cool the planet within months. What happens next may take centuries. Currently, this potential consequence is a large part of current research being conducted on the Earth’s climate system, focusing on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). A subset of ocean currents, the AMOC distributes and redistributes heat across the Northern Atlantic Ocean, which helps to maintain a relatively mild climate in Northern Europe. If there is a weakening or collapse of the AMOC in the future, there will likely be a drastic change in the climate of this area and other areas connected to the AMOC. Volcanic Forcing and Ocean Circulation Sensitivity An international team of scientists, including teams from the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, conducted research to determine if volcanic eruptions act as a driving force for more expansive changes within the AMOC coordinate system. Their results suggest that the AMOC is likely far more responsive to disturbances from outside forces than was previously realized. Records of explosive volcanism during the Holocene. (CREDIT: Science) …
