Utrecht Scientists Revive Debate: Damming Bering Strait to Save AMOC?
A controversial proposal by two scientists at Utrecht University has reignited debate on whether damming the Bering Strait could protect or hasten the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC, a critical ocean current, helps maintain Europe's mild climate and supports ocean life.
The AMOC, often referred to as the Atlantic conveyor belt, is currently at its weakest in 1,600 years. A team led by Stefan Rahmstorf proposed in 20XX to block the Bering Strait with three connected dams to prevent its collapse. The proposal aims to halt the flow of relatively fresh Pacific surface water that weakens the AMOC.
However, other modeling studies suggest that a closed Bering Strait could accelerate the AMOC's collapse and slow its recovery. A 2012 analysis found that closing the strait could create conditions conducive to triggering abrupt climate transitions. Plans to close the Bering Strait have existed since the 19th century, with proposals ranging from making the Arctic Ocean navigable to controlling the Gulf Stream. Some studies even suggest that the Bering Strait may have controlled the AMOC and affected the stability of the Laurentide ice sheet over 11,000 years ago.
The delicate balance of the AMOC is strongly impacted by what happens in the Nordic Seas, where warmer, salty surface waters are cooled and sink, returning southward. As the AMOC is likely to become even weaker and shallower more quickly than previously predicted, the debate on how to influence the Bering Strait's role in its stability continues. Further research is needed to understand the potential impacts of damming the Bering Strait and inform policy decisions regarding climate change mitigation.
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