Jonathan Webb

So that difference in density, which was driving, and energy, I guess, which was driving the movement of the current, is reducing because you've got extra water coming in and extra warmth, all making things less dense.

Right.

As a feedback loop.

So there are conflicting findings and perspectives by the sounds on, like, will it collapse completely?

How likely do you think it is?

Takes a long time to turn anything around.

So without putting you too finely on the spot about which side of the debate you're on, it sounds to me like you're quite concerned about the future status of this big Atlantic current.

There is a highly fictionalized treatment of exactly what might unfold, I believe.

The science fiction movie, The Day After Tomorrow, was it?

The premise was that the AMOC had collapsed.

It does suggest that the consequences would be dire.

Does it slow down or mitigate the effects of global warming in some parts of the world and then make them worse in others?

Is there anything we can do?

Laurie, thank you so much for sharing your lab notes with me.

Professor Laurie Monville is a climate researcher at the University of New South Wales.

This episode of Lab Notes was made on Gadigal and Menang Noongar country.

It was produced by Fiona Pepper.

And I'm Jonathan Webb.

I'll catch you next week.

I don't know about you, but I was glued to the Artemis II mission, and I don't think it was just for professional reasons.