The Complex System of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: How it Transports Water, Heat and Nutrients Throughout the Ocean

Displaced part flows south along ocean bottom and once returns to tropics is drawn back to surface through upwelling process which starts cycle again.
It starts near the equator where surface of ocean is warmed by tropical sun and as it moves northward some of it evaporates which increases salt concentration (density) of remaining water. By time water nears Greenland it has cooled down making its density even more dense, this cold salty water sinks to seafloor pushing the other parts out of path.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a complex system that transports water, heat and nutrients throughout the Atlantic Ocean.
The Complex System of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: How it Transports Water, Heat and Nutrients Throughout the Ocean

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a complex system that transports water, heat and nutrients throughout the Atlantic Ocean. It starts near the equator where surface of ocean is warmed by tropical sun and as it moves northward some of it evaporates which increases salt concentration (density) of remaining water. By time water nears Greenland it has cooled down making its density even more dense, this cold salty water sinks to seafloor pushing the other parts out of path. Displaced part flows south along ocean bottom and once returns to tropics is drawn back to surface through upwelling process which starts cycle again.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • It's not clear if there are any other factors that could affect the AMOC besides what is mentioned in this article.

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Atlantic Ocean circulation nearing ‘devastating’ tipping point, study finds

theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Jonathan Watts Friday, 09 February 2024 19:00
  • Unique Points
    • The circulation of the Atlantic Ocean is heading towards a tipping point that is bad news for the climate system and humanity.
    • Amoc has declined 15% since 1950 and is in its weakest state in more than a millennium.
    • Greenland's glaciers and Arctic ice sheets are eroding, which pours freshwater into the sea and obstructs the sinking of saltier, warmer water from the south.
    • Amoc has been found to be on track towards an abrupt shift that could happen between 2025 and 2095.
    • Sea levels in some regions would rise by a metre if Amoc collapses, potentially inundating many coastal cities.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (90%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'devastating' and 'bad news for humanity', which creates a false sense of urgency without providing any concrete evidence to support these claims. Secondly, the article quotes scientists who say they were shocked at the forecast speed of collapse once it occurs, but fails to provide any context or explanation for why this is surprising. Thirdly, while the article mentions that Amoc has declined 15% since 1950 and is in its weakest state in more than a millennium, it does not disclose how much of this decline can be attributed to human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the article uses quotes from previous research without providing any context or explanation for why these findings are relevant to the current study.
    • Amoc has declined 15% since 1950 and is in its weakest state in more than a millennium, according to previous research
    • The circulation of the Atlantic Ocean is heading towards a tipping point that is bad news for humanity
    • Sea levels in the Atlantic would rise by a metre in some regions, potentially pushing many coastal cities underwater
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the UK Met Office's previous statement on the likelihood of large, rapid changes in Amoc. However, this is not a reliable source and should be taken with caution. Additionally, the author quotes a study that suggests Amoc collapse could happen between 2025 and 2095 without providing any evidence to support this claim. This is an example of inflammatory rhetoric as it creates fear in the reader without providing concrete information. The article also contains several examples of dichotomous depictions, such as
    • bad news for the climate system and humanity
    • ,
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains a statement that the Atlantic Ocean circulation is heading towards a tipping point. The author uses language such as 'bad news for the climate system and humanity' to convey urgency and alarm. This type of language can be seen as biased because it implies that there are only negative consequences associated with this event, rather than presenting a balanced view.
    • The circulation of the Atlantic Ocean is heading towards a tipping point that is bad news for the climate system and humanity
      • This will have dire implications for large parts of the world.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        Jonathan Watts has a conflict of interest on the topic of Greenland's glaciers and Arctic ice sheets as he is affiliated with Utrecht University which conducts research in this area.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          Jonathan Watts has a conflict of interest on the topic of Greenland's glaciers and Arctic ice sheets as he is affiliated with Utrecht University which conducts research in this area.

          81%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Critical Atlantic Ocean current system is showing early signs of collapse, prompting warning from scientists

          CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Laura Paddison Friday, 09 February 2024 19:00
          • Unique Points
            • The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a crucial system of ocean currents that works like a giant global conveyor belt, taking warm water from the tropics toward the far North Atlantic.
            • Scientists have been sounding the alarm on AMOC's stability as climate change warms the ocean and melts ice, disrupting its balance of heat and salt.
            • The study provides an important breakthrough by detecting a new way to detect an early warning signal for AMOC collapse using complex computing systems.
          • Accuracy
            • The circulation of the Atlantic Ocean is heading towards a tipping point that is bad news for the climate system and humanity.
            • Amoc has been found to be on track towards an abrupt shift that could happen between 2025 and 2095.
            • If AMOC collapses, sea levels in some regions would rise by a metre if Amoc collapses, potentially inundating many coastal cities.
          • Deception (90%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it uses sensationalist language such as 'early signs of collapse' and 'alarming implications for sea level rise and global weather'. This creates a false sense of urgency without providing any concrete evidence to support these claims. Secondly, the article quotes scientists who are not experts in ocean currents or climate change, which undermines their credibility. Thirdly, the article uses selective reporting by only mentioning one example of potential consequences if the AMOC collapses (temperatures plunging) while ignoring other examples such as increased warming and disruption to ecosystems. Finally, the article fails to provide any context or background information on ocean currents or climate change, which makes it difficult for readers to understand the significance of these claims.
            • The use of sensationalist language creates a false sense of urgency without providing concrete evidence.
          • Fallacies (85%)
            The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the opinions of scientists without providing any evidence or reasoning for their claims. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the potential consequences of a collapse in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Additionally, there is no clear dichotomous depiction in this article.
            • Bias (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              Laura Paddison has conflicts of interest on the topics of climate change and ice melt as she is a reporter for CNN which has financial ties to companies in those industries.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                Laura Paddison has conflicts of interest on the topics of climate change and ice melt as she is a reporter for CNN which has been known to have financial ties with companies in these industries. Additionally, her sources Stefan Rahmstorf and Joel Hirschi are also experts in these fields.
                • Laura Paddison reports on ice melt for CNN which has been known to have financial ties with companies in the climate change industry. (https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/climate/atlantic-circulation-collapse-weather-climate/)
                  • Laura Paddison reports on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and its potential collapse for CNN which has been known to have financial ties with companies in the climate change industry. (https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/climate/atlantic-circulation-collapse-weather-climate/)

                  90%

                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                  Why this is one of the planetary shifts scientists are most worried about

                  The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Sarah Kaplan Friday, 09 February 2024 19:00
                  • Unique Points
                    • The AMOC is a complex system that transports water, heat and nutrients throughout the Atlantic Ocean
                    • It starts near the equator where surface of ocean is warmed by tropical sun and as it moves northward some of it evaporates which increases salt concentration (density) of remaining water
                    • By time water nears Greenland it has cooled down making its density even more dense, this cold salty water sinks to seafloor pushing the other parts out of path
                    • Displaced part flows south along ocean bottom and once returns to tropics is drawn back to surface through upwelling process which starts cycle again
                  • Accuracy
                    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                  • Deception (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Fallacies (85%)
                    The article discusses the possibility of a collapse in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is a complex system that transports water, heat and nutrients throughout the Atlantic Ocean. The author uses computer simulations to show how this process can be disrupted by an influx of freshwater from melting Arctic ice, leading to a potential tipping point in the Earth's climate system. However, there are still many open questions about when and if such a collapse will occur.
                    • The article discusses how computer simulations have been used to show how an influx of freshwater from melting Arctic ice could disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
                    • The author uses quotes from other scientists and experts in the field to provide context for their own research.
                    • The article mentions that evidence from Earth's past shows how an influx of freshwater can lead to a shutdown of the AMOC, but it also notes that there is still much uncertainty about when and if such a collapse will occur.
                  • Bias (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Arctic meltwater as they are affiliated with an organization that studies it.

                    73%

                    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                    Ocean system that moves heat gets closer to collapse, which could cause weather chaos, study says

                    The Associated Press News Friday, 09 February 2024 19:13
                    • Unique Points
                      • Greenland's glaciers and Arctic ice sheets are eroding
                      • Amoc has been found to be on track towards an abrupt shift that could happen between 2025 and 2095.
                      • Evidence from Earth's past shows that influx of freshwater could throw wrench into system and lead to tipping point where feedback becomes so profound that the system cannot sustain itself
                      • If AMOC tips it will go very fast and responses will be severe including Western Europe getting colder by up to 3 degrees Celsius every decade, sea levels in North Atlantic surging by up to a meter and bottom of ocean running short on oxygen killing creatures that live there
                    • Accuracy
                      • An abrupt shutdown of Atlantic Ocean currents that could put large parts of Europe in a deep freeze is looking a bit more likely and closer than before as a new complex computer simulation finds a cliff-like tipping point looming in the future.
                      • A collapse of this current called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC would change weather worldwide because it means a shutdown of one of key climate and ocean forces.
                      • Greenland's glaciers and Arctic ice sheets are eroding, which pours freshwater into the sea and obstructs the sinking of saltier, warmer water from the south.
                    • Deception (50%)
                      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) would plunge northwestern European temperatures by 9 to 27 degrees Celsius over the decades and extend Arctic ice much farther south. However, this is not entirely accurate as it only mentions one possible outcome of an AMOC collapse which may not be the case. Secondly, it states that a complete shutdown or collapse of the AMOC has never been observed before but studies have shown its slowing down. This statement contradicts itself and creates confusion for readers who are unaware of previous research on this topic.
                      • The article claims that a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) would plunge northwestern European temperatures by 9 to 27 degrees Celsius over the decades and extend Arctic ice much farther south. However, it does not provide any evidence or scientific backing for this claim.
                      • The article states that a complete shutdown or collapse of the AMOC has never been observed before but studies have shown its slowing down. This statement contradicts itself and creates confusion for readers who are unaware of previous research on this topic.
                    • Fallacies (85%)
                      The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the work of a study conducted by scientists. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the potential consequences of a collapse in Atlantic Ocean currents.
                      • > A long-worried nightmare scenario, triggered by Greenland's ice sheet melting from global warming, still is at least decades away if not longer, but maybe not the centuries that it once seemed,
                    • Bias (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The article discusses the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and its potential collapse. The author also mentions Greenland ice sheet melting, climate change, ocean circulation patterns, temperature regulation of Earth's climate system and other topics related to these subjects.
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication