The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a critical component of Earth’s climate system, contributing to weather patterns, sea levels and the respective distributions of marine ecosystems around the world. This huge system of ocean currents is responsible for regulating the climate of our planet, as it brings warm water from the tropics up to the North Atlantic, which in turn impacts temperatures and weather patterns both locally in the western Europe region and globally. It’s really difficult to overstate the importance of the AMOC, it helps keep the climate of Western Europe on the relatively mild side and it acts as a sort of global thermostat, redistributing heat and impacting the carbon cycle.
However, following reports and studies over the past few years that have voiced concerns surrounding the potential for climate change to weaken or even possibly collapse the AMOC, many have sought a better understanding of this ocean’s circulation patterns — its components, how it functions and what happens if and when that function is disrupted.
This knowledge is essential to predicting various climate scenarios of the future and building strategies around the results. In this article, therefore, we’ll aim to provide a detailed overview of the AMOC: what it is, how it works and what the possible consequences of its weakening or collapse might be for global climate patterns and related ecosystems.
Overview of AMOC
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a key conveyor belt of ocean currents that redistributes heat across Earth, playing a crucial role in regulating its climate. It is a complex system of surface and deep-water currents that originates as the Gulf Stream in the tropical Atlantic and stretches all the way to the Antarctic. The AMOC shuttles warm, salty water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, where it cools, sinks and circulates back to the equator and eventually further south again. This process is essential for maintaining the fairly mild climate conditions in Western Europe, and it also helps maintain relative climate stability in the Northern Hemisphere.
But the AMOC has ramifications far beyond the climate of Western Europe. It influences rainfall patterns in the Americas and Africa, keeps temperatures in the North Atlantic in check, and ferries nutrients across ocean basins, redistributing marine life. It’s also a significant cog in the global carbon cycle — the AMOC aids the sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the deep ocean, helping to act as a buffer against global warming.
Developing a better understanding of AMOC processes is needed as we try to predict the future behavior of what is a component of Earth’s system that is likely to be significantly affected by climate change. Changes in temperature, salinity and ice melt patterns in the Earth’s water bodies are all anticipated to modify the strength and stability of the AMOC and, possibly, engender significant shifts in global climate and weather patterns; a major weakening of the AMOC could bring cooler temperatures in Europe, affect marine funds and bring more extreme weather to the continent, illustrating how the AMOC is woven into the broader environmental and climatic colocation.
Understanding AMOC
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is an important component of the global climate system, characterized by its intensive network of currents that transport warm and cold water across the Atlantic, distributing heat from the tropics to the polar regions. On its surface, the AMOC represents one of nature’s greatest marvels, with surface waters warmed by the sun, beginning at the equator, traveling through the Atlantic towards the poles, where they cool, sink to the bottom of the ocean and flow back towards the equator in a deep ocean current. In this entry, we delve into the mechanism, components, and crucial function of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.
Mechanism and Components
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is broadly defined as the large system of ocean currents, including both surface and deep ocean currents, that circulates heat and saline from the tropics to the high latitudes. This system features two main components: the first is the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift that carry warm, salty water from the tropics to the sub-polar regions along the east coast of the United States and the second is the southward-flowing deep water mass called North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW.) The circulation of seawater in the AMOC is driven by differences in water density, primarily caused by salinity and temperature, which is known as thermohaline circulation.
How AMOC Works
The AMOC operates on the principle of thermohaline circulation, where warmer, salty water in the North Atlantic cools and sinks because it is denser, creating a deep southward flow. This process is responsible for redistributing heat in the Earth’s climate system, working to moderate temperatures and impact weather events globally. The AMOC’s circulation is driven by a balance between temperature and salinity – both of which are increasingly in flux due to climate change on a global scale.
The Role of AMOC in Climate Regulation
The AMOC serves as a global regulator of climate by redistributing heat and affecting Earth’s energy balance. It provides the power for climates and weather patterns all over the globe, impacting rainfall distribution, hurricane frequency and even the occurrences of droughts and heatwaves. It extends its influence far beyond the Atlantic, even into how monsoon systems evolve in Africa and Asia, and assists in driving the melting of Arctic ice, along with affecting Antarctic climate conditions.
At its most basic function, the AMOC transfers warm water from the tropics poleward towards the North Atlantic Ocean, which in turn influences how warm or cold it is in various parts of the world. Any significant disruptions in this balance — through either current climate events or human-caused global warming — could lead to an AMOC shutdown. Learning more about the AMOC and effectively monitoring it is critical because of the potential abruptness of a collapse or a very large weakening of the AMOC and because that could have very large effects on global climate. A very large weakening or a collapse of the AMOC could have very large effects on global climate, including shifts in temperature, changing weather patterns, and impacts to marine biodiversity.
The Concept of AMOC Collapse
The potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has generated considerable attention among scientists and policymakers in recent years due to its role in regulating the global climate system. A collapse or strong weakening of the AMOC can have widespread impacts that include changes in temperature, precipitation, and storm intensities in lower latitudes and rising sea levels, among other impacts. This section provides an overview of what a collapse of the AMOC means, how we know that the AMOC has weakened in the past, and what drives changes in the AMOC.
What Does Collapse Mean?
A collapse of the AMOC means a large or complete stop in the circulation of the AMOC. This stops, or at least disrupts, the flow of warm water traveling northward and the flow of cold water traveling southward, which in turn can influence climates across the heavily populated North American and European continents and beyond. Northern Europe could have drastically cooler climates. In the tropics, monsoon patterns could shift. And nutrient transport in marine ecosystems would alter.
Historical Evidence of AMOC Changes
Paleoclimate records offer evidence that the stability of the AMOC and its flow patterns have changed substantially throughout geological history. Disruptions in the AMOC, for example, are believed to have triggered events like the abrupt cooling period that kicked off the Younger Dryas of about 12,000 years ago. These historical precedents enable scientists to piece together how the system might respond to large-scale environmental changes like an AMOC collapse.
Drivers of AMOC Changes
These changes themselves can be triggered by a number of factors, including:
Global Warming and Ice Melt: Higher global temperatures cause the polar ice to melt, and this influx of freshwater can cause massive changes in the oceans’ delicate balance of temperature and salinity that drive the AMOC.
Salinity Changes: Changes in salinity due to patterns of precipitation, discharge of rivers and melt from sea ice may change the density of seawater, which affects its ability to sink and thus the AMOC.
Wind Patterns: Changes in ocean surface current are driven by atmospheric circulation and can alter the flow of AMOC and its strength.
The potential collapse or significant weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could have far-reaching implications for climate, weather patterns, marine ecosystems, and human societies around the globe. This section outlines the primary impacts that a disrupted AMOC could have on European climate, global weather patterns, and marine ecosystems, illustrating the broad and interconnected consequences of such a climatic shift.
On European Climate
The AMOC plays a crucial role in moderating the climate of Western Europe. Should the AMOC collapse, the region could experience considerably cooler temperatures, despite the global warming trend seen elsewhere. This cooling could result in shorter growing seasons, shifts in precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Such climatic shifts would have broad and significant socio-economic implications, affecting not only the natural environment but also agriculture, energy demand, and infrastructure.
On Global Weather Patterns
The influence of the AMOC extends well beyond Europe, shaping weather and climate patterns across the globe. A slowdown or collapse of the system might bring changes to monsoon systems in Asia and Africa, leading to altered patterns of rainfall and the droughts or floods that can accompany them. Similarly, changes in sea surface temperatures and the flow of air could amplify the severity and frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms, putting coastal communities and ecosystems at greater risk than they are already.
On Marine Ecosystems
Marine ecosystems are particularly responsive to modifications of the process of ocean circulation and changing temperatures. A slowdown or shutdown of the AMOC might lead to a shift in the distributions of marine species, altering both the biodiversity and the fisheries upon which hundreds of millions of people depend for their food and their livelihoods. Changes in the transport of nutrients could have a substantial impact on populations of plankton, the foundation of the marine food web, with cascading effects throughout marine ecosystems, and the changes in water temperature could add to the stresses that are already pushing the world’s corals toward a catastrophic tipping point.
Recent scientific studies and observations provide mounting evidence that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is weakening, a trend that has significant implications for global climate, weather patterns, and marine ecosystems. This section delves into the historical data analysis, recent observations, and modeling efforts that collectively suggest a decline in the AMOC’s strength, offering insight into its potential future trajectories and the urgency of addressing this global climatic issue.
Historical Data Analysis
Paleoclimatic records and proxy data, such as ice cores, sediment layers, and tree rings, have revealed periods of significant changes in the AMOC’s strength throughout Earth’s history. These records indicate that the AMOC has experienced episodes of weakening and strengthening, often associated with abrupt climatic shifts. Comparing these historical patterns with current data has allowed scientists to identify a trend of gradual weakening over the past century, likely accelerated by human-induced climate change.
Recent Observations
Modern observational techniques, including satellite data and a network of oceanic sensors known as the Argo float system, have provided direct evidence of changes in the AMOC’s flow and temperature gradients. Studies utilizing these data sources have documented a slowdown in the northward flow of warm water and a corresponding decrease in the southward flow of cold, deep waters. These observations are consistent with predictions of AMOC weakening under increased greenhouse gas concentrations and global warming scenarios.
Modeling AMOC and Its Future
Climate models play a central role in predicting how the AMOC may respond to different greenhouse gas emission scenarios in the future. While such models are subject to uncertainties, they generally concur that the AMOC will continue to weaken throughout the 21st century, with far-reaching consequences for global climate patterns. However, because of the AMOC’s complex interconnections with other components of the Earth system, the precise nature and timing of a potential collapse still remain difficult to pin down.
This evidence of weakening of the AMOC underlines the critical importance of continued monitoring and research to advance our understanding of this essential element of the climate system, as well as the pressing need for global action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the potential for abrupt and irreversible changes to the AMOC and the global climate system it influences.
Also critical to efforts to project future impacts of an AMOC decline on global climate, weather patterns and ecosystems are climate models that can help reveal how the AMOC may respond to a variety of factors, such as global warming due to the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, ice melt driven by rising air and ocean temperatures, and changes in the saltiness of ocean water. In the next section, we’ll take a deeper look at the primary ways that climate models actual help scientists explore the future trajectory of the AMOC and the many sources of uncertainty that remain as they do, as well as the specific effects of polar ice melt on the AMOC.
Climate Models and Predictions
Climate models bring together huge amounts of data and utilize sophisticated algorithms to replicate the interactions within the Earth’s complex climate system—encompassing the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. These models have advanced significantly in recent years, allowing for more accurate predictions of the AMOC’s many different behaviors under a range of possible greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Most models anticipate that the AMOC will continue to weaken throughout the 21st century, with wide-ranging potential impacts on global climate systems. Nonetheless, the degree and timeline of that weakening varies across these models, highlighting the difficulties of accurately simulating the many interrelated dynamical processes that help drive the AMOC.
Polar Ice Melt
One of the most critical factors affecting the AMOC’s future is the fate of polar ice, particularly from the Greenland Ice Sheet and Antarctic glaciers. Melting polar ice releases large volumes of freshwater into the ocean, reducing the salinity and density of seawater, which could potentially disrupt the AMOC’s thermohaline conveyor belt. Climate models predict that increased rates of ice melt will accelerate the AMOC’s weakening, highlighting the interconnectedness of polar regions with Earth’s general circulation and temperature patterns, with far-reaching impacts. Understanding and accurately modeling these impacts is essential not just for assessing the AMOC’s future efficiency but for our future on an evolving planet.
The Global Consequences of AMOC Collapse
The potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) carries far-reaching implications for the global climate system, potentially leading to significant changes in regional climates, altering precipitation patterns, and affecting sea levels. These environmental changes could have profound consequences for human societies, underscoring the need for a comprehensive understanding to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Global Implications
A collapsing or weakened AMOC is expected to lead to a decrease in global temperatures, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, due to reduced northward heat transport. This could paradoxically result in cooler conditions in parts of Atlantic-facing Northern Europe, even as the overall globe warms. The heat redistribution could also significantly impact tropical climate zones, potentially affecting biodiversity and agriculture.
Sea Level Rise
The AMOC significantly impacts sea levels. A potential collapse could lead to higher sea levels along the eastern coast of North America due to reduced westward water transport, changes in the Gulf Stream, and the mere increase in water volume from the melting of Arctic and Antarctic polar ice caps and glaciers. Additionally, regional variations in sea-level rise would be influenced by changes in gravitational forces and the redistribution of mass resulting from melting polar ice caps. For coastal cities and communities, this increase could have major ramifications, exacerbating the effects of storm surges and coastal erosion.
Changes in Precipitation Patterns
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) significantly influences global precipitation patterns by affecting the distribution of heat and moisture. A weakening of the AMOC could result in changes to monsoon systems, impacting water availability in some of the world’s most densely populated regions. Europe and North America might experience drier conditions, while other areas could see increased rainfall, heightening the risk of flooding. These shifts in precipitation would have notable consequences for water resources, agriculture, and human health.
The potential global consequences of an AMOC collapse highlight the interconnectedness of Earth’s climate systems. The effects on temperatures, sea levels, and precipitation patterns underline the complex feedback mechanisms that can intensify the impacts of climate change. Therefore, monitoring the AMOC and understanding its dynamics are essential for global climate research and policy-making.
Regional Effects of AMOC Collapse
The potential collapse of the AMOC would have varied impacts across different regions, reflecting the complex interplay between ocean currents, climate systems, and local environmental conditions. This includes specific regional effects on North America, Europe, and Africa, showing the diverse implications for climate, ecosystems, and human societies within these areas.
North America
Particularly along the eastern seaboard, a significant weakening or collapse of the AMOC could lead to increased sea level rise, directly threatening coastal cities like New York, Boston, and Miami. Altered oceanic conditions might also shift weather patterns, potentially resulting in more extreme weather events, including hurricanes, heatwaves, and cold spells. Moreover, changes in sea temperatures could impact marine ecosystems and fisheries, affecting food security and livelihoods in coastal communities.
Europe
Europe is notably vulnerable to changes in the AMOC, relying on its heat transport for milder winter temperatures. A collapse could lead to significantly cooler winters in northwestern Europe, presenting challenges for energy infrastructure, necessitating investments in cold-resistant climate infrastructure, and altering agricultural practices accustomed to temperate conditions. Additionally, altered precipitation patterns could have profound implications for water resources, agriculture, and natural ecosystems across the continent, setting the stage for unique policy and adaptation challenges amid a backdrop of global warming.
Africa
The primary impact of an AMOC collapse on Africa would manifest in altered rainfall patterns, significantly affecting the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa’s monsoon systems. These regions could face increased drought or flooding, contingent on shifts in the intertropical convergence zone. The freshening of the North Atlantic from melting Greenland ice could introduce significant amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere, exacerbating water scarcity in already vulnerable areas. This scenario would challenge water resource management and agriculture, critical components of the Sahel and sub-Saharan economies.
Impact on Marine Life
The potential collapse or significant weakening of the AMOC would profoundly affect marine ecosystems. Changes in the AMOC disrupt nutrient distribution and alter marine habitats, impacting marine life from plankton to top predators. This section will explore the consequences on plankton populations, shelf fisheries, and the broader marine ecosystem, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate systems and the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies worldwide.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a pivotal role in shaping the conditions of the ocean, significantly affecting fisheries, plankton populations, and the broader marine ecosystem due to its influence on temperature, salinity, and nutrient distribution.
Fisheries: The health and distribution of fish stocks are closely tied to the conditions maintained by the AMOC. A slowdown or collapse could shift fish populations as they seek more favorable environments, leading to the depletion of stocks in traditional fishing grounds. This poses a threat to commercial fisheries and the communities reliant on them. Notably, species like the North Atlantic cod could undergo drastic habitat changes, undermining the fishing industry’s yields and economic stability.
Plankton and Marine Ecosystems: Plankton, the cornerstone of the marine food web, is particularly sensitive to variations in water temperature and nutrient supply, both regulated by the AMOC. A disruption could impair plankton blooms, resulting in significant ramifications up the food chain and affecting the ocean’s carbon sequestration capabilities. This disruption could impact everything from marine mammals and seabirds to the overall health of marine ecosystems.
Marine Biodiversity: The wider marine ecosystem, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and deep-sea communities, could suffer from the AMOC’s alterations. Increased water temperatures could exacerbate coral bleaching and biodiversity loss. Seagrass beds, essential for coastal defense and providing habitat to numerous species, could be adversely affected by shifts in salinity and temperature. Additionally, deep-sea ecosystems, dependent on the descent of organic matter for nutrients, might experience disturbances due to changes in ocean circulation, impacting species diversity and ecosystem services.
Societal Impacts
The potential weakening or collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) poses significant environmental, ecological, and societal challenges. Research indicates that the Northern Hemisphere oceans are already reacting to this worrying possibility, with a continued weakening of the AMOC expected to cause climatic shifts globally. This would notably affect agriculture, human health, and economic stability, emphasizing the need for comprehension and preparation for these impacts. Here’s how changes in the AMOC could impact societies worldwide:
Agriculture:
Highly sensitive to climate variations, agriculture depends on stable weather patterns for planting, growth, and harvesting. Changes in the AMOC could alter precipitation and temperature patterns, directly impacting agricultural productivity. A significant cooling could shorten growing seasons and reduce yields in key agricultural regions, including Europe. Changes in rainfall could particularly affect arid and semi-arid areas, heightening the risk of food shortages and global price increases. The potential increase in storminess could lead to enhanced coastal erosion, further affecting agriculture near coastlines, especially in the North Atlantic where temperature changes are most rapid.
Human Health:
The health impacts of AMOC changes are extensive. More frequent and severe heatwaves could increase heat-related illnesses and fatalities. Alterations in precipitation patterns may shift the distribution of waterborne diseases, while reduced crop yields, diminishing fish stocks, and shifts in marine-based pathogens could exacerbate malnutrition and water-borne diseases. This could add to the suffering of millions living on the edge of subsistence, with millions already dying from malnutrition annually and many more falling sick—a situation likely to worsen with AMOC changes.
Economic Stability:
The socioeconomic fabric could be stretched thin by the ramifications of AMOC changes, with key sectors like agriculture and fisheries facing direct threats. This would not only affect food security but also the livelihoods of communities dependent on these industries, potentially leading to increased economic instability and widening inequality gaps.
The broad and varied economic impacts underscore the disruptive potential of changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) on sectors dependent on stable climate and ocean systems. Industries such as agriculture, fishing, tourism, and infrastructure face significant risks. Moreover, sea level rise and increased storm surges may compel coastal communities and governments to invest heavily in coastal defenses and disaster preparedness. The acceleration of these changes threatens overall economic stability in many regions, demanding strategic planning and substantial investment in climate resilience.
Comparative Analysis with Past Climate Events
Comparing the current situation with past climate events that share similarities can enrich our understanding of the potential impacts of changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Historical climate shifts offer valuable insights into the large-scale consequences of an AMOC collapse or significant weakening, providing a perspective on how such events have influenced climate, ecosystems, and human societies. This discussion includes a comparison with two significant past climate events: the Little Ice Age and the Younger Dryas, illustrating the profound effects these shifts had on the global environment and human civilization.
The Little Ice Age
The Little Ice Age, a period marked by regionally cooler temperatures between the 14th and 19th centuries, sheds light on the broader climatic impacts that might occur with a weakened AMOC. While the cooling experienced during this time was not solely due to changes in the AMOC and affected regions beyond Northern Europe and North America, including the Pacific, Southern Ocean, tropics, and Southern Hemisphere, the period is illustrative of the potential consequences. The cooler temperatures led to a significant reduction in agricultural productivity and had profound social and economic impacts, serving as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by shifts in climate. This historical example underscores the critical need for resilience and adaptability in the face of changing climate conditions, highlighting the importance of preparing for varied impacts on food security, healthcare, and economies.
The Younger Dryas
The Younger Dryas, a significant cooling event that commenced around 12,000 years ago, was likely triggered by a dramatic weakening of the AMOC. This period exemplifies how shifts in ocean circulation can have extensive repercussions, affecting ecosystems and altering precipitation patterns, with profound impacts on human societies and the natural environment. The event led to a rapid temperature decline in the Northern Hemisphere, emphasizing the potential for abrupt climate changes stemming from disruptions in the AMOC. This historical instance highlights the extensive effects such changes can have, not only on the climate and ecosystems but also on human populations and their way of life.
Lessons from the Past
Historical records and paleoclimate data reveal that significant climatic shifts, similar to those anticipated with changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), have occurred in the past, resulting in substantial impacts globally. These historical comparisons underscore several critical points:
The AMOC’s Significant Impact: The AMOC has the capacity to profoundly influence both global and regional climate conditions.
Responsiveness of Ecosystems, Health, and Societies: Across various regions, ecosystems, human health, and societal structures are highly responsive to changes in the AMOC.
The Importance of Preparedness and Adaptability: Being prepared and adaptable are key strategies in mitigating the potential impacts of climatic changes driven by AMOC dynamics.
The exploration of historical climate phenomena with a focus on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) provides essential insights into possible future developments and emphasizes the necessity for persistent research and observation of this crucial element of the climate system. Learning from past climatic transitions enables us to more effectively anticipate and possibly lessen the impacts of forthcoming alterations in the AMOC. This underscores the vital importance of sustained scientific research and strategic policy formulation in confronting the complexities of climate change. Through understanding the lessons of history, we are better equipped to navigate the uncertainties of the future, ensuring a proactive approach to climate resilience and adaptation.
For an in-depth understanding of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its significant role in the climate system, you can explore a variety of authoritative sources.
- Nature Geoscience offers detailed insights into the current state of the AMOC, emphasizing its weakest point in the last millennium and discussing the implications of its decline on subarctic Atlantic productivity and ocean circulation in the Northeast Atlantic. This source provides a comprehensive review of the AMOC’s role in climate impacts and variability (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00699-z).
- The National Ocean Service (NOAA) provides an accessible overview of what the AMOC is, explaining its process and significance in global climate and ocean health. It addresses the current understanding and research concerning the potential slowing down of the AMOC and its implications for climate change, including impacts on coastal sea levels and extreme weather events (https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/amoc.html).
- NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) discusses ongoing research and findings related to the AMOC, including its impact on the Atlantic’s heat transport and the role of African dust during Heinrich events. The site highlights the importance of AMOC in global energy balance and offers insights into its variability and potential future changes (https://www.aoml.noaa.gov).
Insider Release
Contact:
DISCLAIMER
INSIDER RELEASE is an informative blog. This blog discusses various topics. It is emphasized that the ideas and concepts, although based on research from official sources, result from free evaluations by the writers. The BLOG, in full compliance with the principles of information and freedom, is not classified as a press site.
This site is phenomenal. The magnificent data uncovers the essayist’s excitement. I’m shocked and anticipate additional such fabulous posts.
Fantastic site Lots of helpful information here I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious And of course thanks for your effort
The Crucial Role of AMOC in Climate Regulation and Its Global Impacts” really underscores how everything on our planet is connected. The AMOC isn’t just a current; it’s a lifeline, affecting weather, sea levels, and even the air we breathe. It’s eye-opening to see just how delicate our climate system is—and how much we depend on these underwater currents. If we’re serious about tackling climate change, understanding and protecting the AMOC should be high on the agenda. For anyone looking to dive deeper into this topic, checking out the latest articles on sites like Nature or Science is a great start. They’ve got loads of accessible info that sheds light on these complex topics.
https://www.nature.com / https://www.science.org