Collapse of key Atlantic currents could be prevented by newly discovered backup system, study finds

Researchers have identified a mechanism in the Barents Sea that may be keeping Atlantic currents strong. (Image courtesy of Anton Petrus via Getty Images)

A new study suggests that the Atlantic Ocean's major currents, which appear to be slowing as a result of climate change, may be more resilient to global warming than scientists previously thought, thanks to a hidden backup system.

The Atlantic Meridional Circulation (AMC) is a network of water currents that wind around the Atlantic like a giant conveyor belt. Cold, salty waters sink near Greenland and then move south across the ocean floor. Eventually, these waters rise to the surface near Antarctica and return north, bringing warmer waters to the Northern Hemisphere. This system plays an important role in global warming, especially in Europe.

In recent years, experts have repeatedly expressed concern that the sinking of the waters could stop altogether, potentially leading to significant temperature drops in northern Europe and worsening sea level rise along the US East Coast, among other consequences.