A recent scientific study has raised concerns that the Gulf Stream system, which drives the Atlantic’s currents and influences western Europe’s weather, could collapse by 2025. This collapse would have significant climate impacts, including lower temperatures and disruptions to rainfall patterns. However, leading scientists have reservations about the study, stating that it is not established science and that the collapse of the system is far from certain. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the system, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc), will not collapse as quickly as suggested by the study.
The Amoc is a complex set of currents that bring warm water northwards, which then cools and sinks. However, as global temperatures rise due to global warming, the Amoc is being affected by the influx of fresh water from melting ice caps and other sources. If the Amoc were to collapse, it could lead to lower temperatures in Europe, rising sea levels in the eastern US, and disruptions to agriculture due to changes in rainfall patterns. The last time the Amoc stopped and restarted was during the Ice Ages thousands of years ago.
The study, published in Nature Communications, used sea surface temperature data from 1870 to assess the strength of the Amoc currents over time. It estimated that the collapse of the Amoc could occur between 2025 and 2095, depending on greenhouse gas emissions. However, scientists have expressed skepticism about the study’s conclusions, stating that there is not enough evidence to support the claim that the Amoc has declined. The climate system is complex, and experts do not have all the necessary evidence to fully understand the Amoc.
While the predictions of the Amoc collapse should be taken with caution, scientists emphasize that the possibility of abrupt changes in the North Atlantic climate system should still be taken seriously. It is important to continue studying and monitoring the Amoc, as it plays a crucial role in global climate patterns.
Original news source: Will the Gulf Stream really collapse by 2025? (BBC)
Listen
Slow
Normal
Fast
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific time frame (e.g. 1870-1900, 1900-1950, 1950-2000, 2000-present) from the article. In their groups, students have to read the article and create a concise summary of the key points within their assigned time frame. After a set amount of time, each group presents their summary to the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students discuss their opinions on the possibility of the Gulf Stream system collapsing by 2025. They should consider the evidence presented in the article and any prior knowledge they have on the topic. After discussing, each group presents their opinions to the class and a class-wide poll is conducted to see the overall sentiment.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “Amoc” on the board. In a circle, have students brainstorm as many words or phrases related to the Amoc, climate change, and the potential collapse of the Gulf Stream system. After a set amount of time, go around the circle and have each student share one word or phrase they came up with. Encourage students to build upon each other’s responses and create connections between the words/phrases.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one group representing the scientists who have reservations about the study and the other group representing the study’s findings. In their respective groups, students compile a list of pros and cons for their assigned perspective. After a set amount of time, the groups come together and present their lists to the class, engaging in a respectful debate about the potential collapse of the Gulf Stream system.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students discuss and make predictions about the potential consequences of the Gulf Stream system collapsing by 2025. They should consider the information from the article and any additional knowledge they have on the topic. After discussing, each group presents their predictions to the class, explaining their reasoning and supporting their ideas with evidence from the article or other sources.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the Gulf Stream system and how does it influence western Europe’s weather?
2. What are the potential climate impacts if the Gulf Stream system were to collapse?
3. Why do leading scientists have reservations about the recent study on the collapse of the Gulf Stream system?
4. What is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) and how does it work?
5. How is the Amoc being affected by global warming?
6. What are some potential consequences of the collapse of the Amoc?
7. What data did the study in Nature Communications use to assess the strength of the Amoc currents?
8. Why do scientists express skepticism about the study’s conclusions regarding the decline of the Amoc?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A recent scientific study has raised (1)______ that the Gulf Stream system, which drives the Atlantic’s (2)______ and influences western Europe’s weather, could collapse by 2025. This collapse would have significant climate impacts, including (3)______ temperatures and disruptions to rainfall patterns. However, leading scientists have reservations about the study, stating that it is not established science and that the collapse of the system is far from certain. The (4)______ Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the system, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc), will not collapse as quickly as (5)______ by the study.
The Amoc is a complex set of currents that bring warm water northwards, which then cools and sinks. However, as global temperatures rise due to global warming, the Amoc is being affected by the (6)______ of fresh water from melting ice caps and other (7)______. If the Amoc were to collapse, it could lead to lower temperatures in Europe, rising sea (8)______ in the eastern US, and disruptions to agriculture due to (9)______ in rainfall patterns. The last time the Amoc stopped and restarted was during the Ice Ages thousands of (10)______ ago.
The study, published in Nature Communications, used sea surface temperature data from 1870 to (11)______ the strength of the Amoc currents over time. It estimated that the (12)______ of the Amoc could occur between 2025 and 2095, depending on greenhouse gas emissions. However, scientists have expressed skepticism about the study’s conclusions, stating that there is not enough evidence to support the claim that the Amoc has declined. The climate (13)______ is complex, and experts do not have all the necessary evidence to fully understand the Amoc.
While the predictions of the Amoc collapse should be taken with caution, scientists (14)______ that the possibility of abrupt changes in the North (15)______ climate system should still be taken seriously. It is important to continue (16)______ and monitoring the Amoc, as it plays a crucial role in global climate patterns.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is the Gulf Stream system and how does it influence western Europe’s weather?
2. How would you feel if the Gulf Stream system were to collapse by 2025?
3. Do you think the study’s conclusion about the collapse of the Gulf Stream system is accurate? Why or why not?
4. How do rising global temperatures affect the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc)?
5. What do you think would be the consequences of the Amoc collapsing?
6. Do you think the influx of fresh water from melting ice caps and other sources is a significant factor in the potential collapse of the Amoc? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about the skepticism expressed by scientists regarding the study’s conclusions?
8. How important do you think it is to fully understand the Amoc and its potential impact on global climate patterns?
9. Do you think the predictions of the Amoc collapse should be taken seriously? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if lower temperatures and disruptions to rainfall patterns occurred in Europe as a result of the Amoc collapsing?
11. What do you think about the role of greenhouse gas emissions in the potential collapse of the Amoc?
12. How do you think the potential collapse of the Amoc would affect agriculture and food production?
13. Do you think the study’s timeframe for the collapse of the Amoc is realistic? Why or why not?
14. What measures do you think should be taken to study and monitor the Amoc more effectively?
15. How do you think the potential collapse of the Amoc would impact the economies of countries reliant on agriculture and fishing?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Gulf Stream
2. currents
3. climate
4. temperatures
5. disruptions
6. rainfall
7. collapse
8. study
Meanings:
(a) The degree of hotness or coldness in the atmosphere
(b) Interruptions or disturbances to a normal process
(c) A scientific investigation or examination of a subject
(d) A complex set of flows in a body of water
(e) The long-term weather patterns of a region
(f) The amount of rain that falls in a specific area
(g) The sudden failure or breakdown of a system
(h) The system that drives the Atlantic’s currents
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the name of the system that drives the Atlantic’s currents and influences western Europe’s weather?
(a) Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc)
(b) Gulf Stream System
(c) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
(d) Nature Communications
2. What could be a potential climate impact of the collapse of the Amoc?
(a) Higher temperatures in Europe
(b) Lower temperatures in Europe
(c) Rising sea levels in Europe
(d) Increased rainfall in Europe
3. What is causing the Amoc to be affected?
(a) Rising global temperatures
(b) Greenhouse gas emissions
(c) Influx of fresh water from melting ice caps
(d) All of these answers
4. When did the Amoc last stop and restart?
(a) During the Ice Ages thousands of years ago
(b) In the 19th century
(c) In the 21st century
(d) It has never stopped and restarted
5. What data did the study in Nature Communications use to assess the strength of the Amoc currents?
(a) Greenhouse gas emissions data from 2025
(b) Rainfall patterns data from 2095
(c) Ice cap melting data from 2025
(d) Sea surface temperature data from 1870
6. What do scientists say about the study’s conclusions?
(a) The collapse of the Amoc is certain to happen by 2025
(b) The study’s conclusions are accurate and should be taken seriously
(c) There is not enough evidence to support the claim that the Amoc has declined
(d) The Amoc has already collapsed
7. What should be done in response to the predictions of the Amoc collapse?
(a) Take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(b) Ignore the predictions as they are not based on established science
(c) Prepare for the collapse by building infrastructure to mitigate the impacts
(d) Continue studying and monitoring the Amoc
8. What role does the Amoc play in global climate patterns?
(a) It has no impact on global climate patterns
(b) It plays a crucial role in global climate patterns
(c) Its collapse would have minimal impact on global climate patterns
(d) Its collapse would lead to global warming
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. A recent scientific study has raised concerns about the potential collapse of the Gulf Stream system by 2025.
2. Scientists downplay the importance of continuing to study and monitor the Amoc, as it plays an insignificant role in global climate patterns.
3. The influx of fresh water from melting ice caps and other sources due to global warming is affecting the Amoc.
4. The collapse of the Gulf Stream system could result in higher temperatures and no disruptions to rainfall patterns.
5. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) will collapse as quickly as suggested by the study.
6. Leading scientists have reservations about the study, stating that it is not established science and that the collapse of the system is far from certain.
7. The study used land surface temperature data from 1870 to assess the strength of the Amoc currents over time.
8. The Amoc is a complex set of currents that bring warm water northwards, which then cools and sinks.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What is the potential impact of the collapse of the Gulf Stream system on western Europe’s weather?
2. What factors are currently affecting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc)?
3. What evidence did the study in Nature Communications use to assess the strength of the Amoc currents?
4. Why are scientists skeptical about the study’s conclusions regarding the decline of the Amoc?
5. Why is it important to continue studying and monitoring the Amoc?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. The Gulf Stream system is a set of currents that drives the Atlantic’s currents and influences western Europe’s weather. It brings warm water northwards, which then cools and sinks, affecting the temperature and climate of the region.
2. If the Gulf Stream system were to collapse, it could lead to lower temperatures in Europe, rising sea levels in the eastern US, and disruptions to agriculture due to changes in rainfall patterns.
3. Leading scientists have reservations about the recent study because they believe it is not established science and that the collapse of the Gulf Stream system is far from certain. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the system, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc), will not collapse as quickly as suggested by the study.
4. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) is a complex set of currents that bring warm water northwards, which then cools and sinks. It plays a crucial role in global climate patterns.
5. The Amoc is being affected by global warming due to the influx of fresh water from melting ice caps and other sources. This disrupts the balance of salt and density in the ocean, potentially weakening or slowing down the Amoc.
6. Some potential consequences of the collapse of the Amoc include lower temperatures in Europe, rising sea levels in the eastern US, and disruptions to agriculture due to changes in rainfall patterns.
7. The study in Nature Communications used sea surface temperature data from 1870 to assess the strength of the Amoc currents over time.
8. Scientists express skepticism about the study’s conclusions regarding the decline of the Amoc because they believe there is not enough evidence to support the claim that the Amoc has declined. The climate system is complex, and experts do not have all the necessary evidence to fully understand the Amoc.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) concerns
(2) currents
(3) lower
(4) Intergovernmental
(5) suggested
(6) influx
(7) sources
(8) levels
(9) changes
(10) years
(11) assess
(12) collapse
(13) system
(14) emphasize
(15) Atlantic
(16) studying
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Gulf Stream
Answer: (h) The system that drives the Atlantic’s currents
2. currents
Answer: (d) A complex set of flows in a body of water
3. climate
Answer: (e) The long-term weather patterns of a region
4. temperatures
Answer: (a) The degree of hotness or coldness in the atmosphere
5. disruptions
Answer: (b) Interruptions or disturbances to a normal process
6. rainfall
Answer: (f) The amount of rain that falls in a specific area
7. collapse
Answer: (g) The sudden failure or breakdown of a system
8. study
Answer: (c) A scientific investigation or examination of a subject
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the name of the system that drives the Atlantic’s currents and influences western Europe’s weather?
Answer: (a) Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc)
2. What could be a potential climate impact of the collapse of the Amoc?
Answer: (b) Lower temperatures in Europe
3. What is causing the Amoc to be affected?
Answer: (c) Influx of fresh water from melting ice caps
4. When did the Amoc last stop and restart?
Answer: (a) During the Ice Ages thousands of years ago
5. What data did the study in Nature Communications use to assess the strength of the Amoc currents?
Answer: (d) Sea surface temperature data from 1870
6. What do scientists say about the study’s conclusions?
Answer: (c) There is not enough evidence to support the claim that the Amoc has declined
7. What should be done in response to the predictions of the Amoc collapse?
Answer: (d) Continue studying and monitoring the Amoc
8. What role does the Amoc play in global climate patterns?
Answer: (b) It plays a crucial role in global climate patterns
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. A recent scientific study has raised concerns about the potential collapse of the Gulf Stream system by 2025. (Answer: True)
2. Scientists downplay the importance of continuing to study and monitor the Amoc, as it plays an insignificant role in global climate patterns. (Answer: False)
3. The influx of fresh water from melting ice caps and other sources due to global warming is affecting the Amoc. (Answer: True)
4. The collapse of the Gulf Stream system could result in higher temperatures and no disruptions to rainfall patterns. (Answer: False)
5. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) will collapse as quickly as suggested by the study. (Answer: False)
6. Leading scientists have reservations about the study, stating that it is not established science and that the collapse of the system is far from certain. (Answer: True)
7. The study used land surface temperature data from 1870 to assess the strength of the Amoc currents over time. (Answer: False)
8. The Amoc is a complex set of currents that bring warm water northwards, which then cools and sinks. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
