Scientists propose sealing the Bering Strait to prevent Gulf Stream collapse.

Scientists propose a radical solution to stop the Gulf Stream from collapsing. They suggest closing the Bering Strait to stabilize the ocean system.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, drives warm water northward through the Gulf Stream. Global warming threatens to weaken or shut down this vital current.

Some studies warn of a collapse within this century. Such an event would plunge UK temperatures significantly. Winters could become up to 7°C colder on average.

Experts believe a physical barrier can prevent this disaster. The plan involves sealing the 53-mile-wide Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska.

A constructed closure would alter freshwater balance in the system. This action would act as a stabilizer against collapse.

Researchers wrote in Science Advances that a collapse would impact global climate. They noted the damage could be practically irreversible. Building the closure is a feasible climate intervention strategy.

However, the strait serves as a critical shipping route. It connects Asia and Europe with a vital shortcut. Cargo, energy resources, and research vessels rely on this passage.

The proposal includes three separate dams linking mainland Russia to Alaska. These structures would connect via two small islands called the Diomedes.

The team from Utrecht University in the Netherlands used models for simulation. They analyzed how the AMOC would respond in different scenarios.

The core idea relies on freshwater levels in the system. The current depends on dense, cold, and salty water sinking.

An open Bering Strait allows fresh Pacific water to flow north. This dilutes salinity and weakens the current. Closing it ensures a saltier North Atlantic. This keeps the AMOC active instead of collapsing.

They propose a mega-dam to block water exchange between oceans. This barrier would stretch 50 miles across the strait.

The structure would include a raised barrier above sea level. The top of the dam would be around 100 meters wide.

Authors argue the project is technically feasible. The strait is shallow and relatively narrow. Existing projects like land reclamation offer comparable examples.

Studies suggest collapse could trigger a new Ice Age in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures over Europe would plummet while ice encroaches from the Arctic.

The team stated their proposal works only if implemented early. They warned the project would have a large impact on local ecosystems.

The researchers stressed that carbon dioxide mitigation remains the preferable option. They noted that if mitigation fails, a man-made closure could prevent collapse under specific climate forcing scenarios.

A potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) would inflict severe and catastrophic damage upon the Gulf Stream, a critical component of this vast oceanic system. The consequences would be immediate and chilling: a drastic reduction in the volume of warm water transported to Europe, sparking widespread cooling across the continent. Just this month, researchers from the University of Bordeaux issued a stark warning, projecting that the AMOC could weaken by 50 per cent by the close of this century. This forecast marks a significant escalation from previous estimates, which had anticipated a decline of only approximately 32 per cent over the same timeframe.

The gravity of this acceleration has ignited serious apprehension regarding humanity's readiness for such abrupt climatic shifts. In their recent publication, the scientists cautioned that the resulting slowdown would induce "significant modifications" to the global climate. The ramifications extend far beyond Europe, threatening to cause "extensive drying" in the Sahel region of Africa—an area already plagued by persistent drought and famine. Simultaneously, the failure of the Gulf Stream to ferry warmth from the Tropics would drive temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere to plummet, fundamentally altering weather patterns and ecosystems on a global scale.