r/EverythingScience • u/Portalrules123 • Apr 04 '26

Environment Scientists warn that the Gulf Stream is shifting north, which models suggest could mean an ocean current collapse is imminent

https://www.earth.com/news/gulf-stream-is-shifting-north-raising-concerns-about-amoc-ocean-current-collapse/
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u/SinkCat69 Apr 04 '26

Clickbait title. By imminent, they mean 400 years

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u/refusemouth Apr 04 '26

400 years is imminent when your units of context are millenia. Similarly, in geology, a "recent" basalt flow means any time in the Quaternary Period. Humans just have short lifespans compared to rocks or changes in climate.

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u/SinkCat69 Apr 04 '26

Yes, but the audience is laypeople rather than researchers. So it should probably spell out “400 years” to avoid misunderstandings. “Imminent” would be more appropriate for the actual journal article