AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse? episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 4, 2026 · 11 MIN

AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse?

from What in the World · host BBC World Service

Disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow showed the world hit by extreme weather events caused by disruption to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Today, even though the events of the film are highly unlikely to happen, scientists are concerned by changes to the AMOC.The AMOC is a massive north-south system of currents in the Atlantic Ocean that carries warm surface water towards the Arctic and returns colder water thousands of miles south through the deep ocean. It impacts weather patterns across the world from north-west Europe, to west Africa and all the way to India. However, scientists are worried that climate change is weakening the system which could lead to dramatic changes in weather around the world.BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas explains what the AMOC is, what exactly scientists are worried about and what the potential impacts could be if the AMOC is weakened or collapses entirely.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Adam Chowdhury Video Producer: Adam Chowdhury Editors: Emily Horler & Verity Wilde

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 4, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse?

0:00 11:46

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What in the World?

This episode is 11 minutes long.

When was this What in the World episode published?

This episode was published on August 4, 2026.

Can I download this What in the World episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!