Kildare professor heading up ocean study

A professor in Maynooth University (MU) has been appointed as co-chair of a new initiative which aims to deliver an updated climate assessment of the Atlantic Ocean’s circulation system.

Dr Gerard McCarthy of MU’s climate research unit ICARUS and the Department of Geography will join leading scientists from nine European countries and Canada to assess the likelihood and risks of a potential disruption to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its implications for climate, ecosystems, people and the economy.

Dr McCarthy will co-chair the project, focused on the Gulf Stream system of currents, alongside Prof Hans Otto Pörtner of the German-based Alfred Wegener Institute, which carries out polar and marine research.

The AMOC plays a vital role in modulating climate, with Ireland one of the countries most impacted, distributing heat and nutrients across the Atlantic Ocean.

Recent studies have raised concern that the system may be approaching a tipping point, with far-reaching implications for weather patterns, sea levels, marine ecosystems and socio-economic systems.

The project will produce a scientific assessment report, examining the current state of the AMOC, assessing projections of future weakening and the potential for collapse, and exploring associated ecological risks and human dimensions, including possible responses and solutions.

It aims to address and navigate ongoing debate among researchers and provide a solid foundation for policy engagement and outreach.