US EditionIceland Classifies Atlantic Current Collapse as National Security Threat
- The Icelandic government is developing a disaster-preparedness policy after Iceland Climate Minister Johann Pall Johannsson said, 'It is a direct threat to our national resilience and security.'
- Warming-Driven meltwater from Greenland's ice sheet and Arctic thaw add cold freshwater that scientists warn could disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which transports warm tropical water north and keeps Europe’s winters mild.
- On Monday, scientists from more than 30 universities and international organizations warned about risks, while the Nordic Council of Ministers funded a 'Nordic Tipping Week' workshop last month, and Northern European ministries are funding more research.
- Risks being evaluated span energy, food, infrastructure and transport, as an AMOC collapse could destabilize rainfall for subsistence farmers in Africa, India and South America and plunge Northern Europe into colder winters while accelerating warming in Antarctica.
- Officials are urging action now, saying 'We cannot afford to wait...,' as scientists warn a collapse could be inevitable within decades and Britain directs over 81 million pounds into research.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Atlantic Ocean Current Collapse Could Trigger Modern Ice Age
Jökulsárlón, a large glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland. Credit: United Nations Photo – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 via Flickr. Iceland has declared the possible collapse of a major Atlantic Ocean current a national security risk and an “existential threat,” saying the move will let the government plan for worst-case scenarios as several scientists warn a shutdown could plunge parts of the Northern Hemisphere into a modern-day ice age. The Atlantic Meridio…
Iceland fears extreme cold due to a potential stagnation of the ocean currents that give Europe its temperate climate. The country could be surrounded by sea ice in winter, making fishing and shipping virtually impossible. The country sees this as a threat to national security.
Scientists have announced that the AMOC, a massive current in the Atlantic Ocean, is at risk of collapse this century. A potential collapse could plunge Europe into extreme cold, with some regions experiencing winter temperatures as low as -30°C. Experts warn that the possibility of a new ice age is more real than ever.
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