If you have read my blog, you will have noticed that I am very focused on the AMOC since its collapse will have a huge impact on the consequences of Climate Change. Unlike the slow steady progress and cascading effects of temperature change or the somewhat predictable onset of water shortages, the collapse of the AMOC will result in rapid changes in localized temperature drops mostly in Europe and to a lesser extent, the northern elements of North America.
Current predictions of its collapse (this is becoming a ‘when’ not ‘if’ issue) now range from 2035 to 2100 and are very much in the news of late. When this happens, the temperature in Northern Europe could very quickly (over just a few years) drop by 2-5 deg C and create a counter intuitive mini-ice age. The biggest impact would be crop failures which would be compounded by drought driven crop failures in the southern latitudes and slow aquifer failure trend in others.
We are on a course towards all of these stressors but AMOC collapse when it happens, will be the most abrupt. Since no one really can predict the timing, building out the farm will result in the best preparation in case food supply chains are impacted as they inevitably will be.
Food (no pun intended) for thought.
SZ