U.S. to Dismantle System Tracking Atlantic Currents That Are at Risk of Collapse

The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a system of over 900 instruments monitoring Atlantic and Pacific oceans that was designed to operate for 25 years but will be completely removed within 15 months. This shutdown will eliminate critical data collection on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial ocean current system that scientists increasingly fear may be approaching a collapse point as the climate warms. Congressional Democrats have pledged to fight the decision, warning that removing these monitors leaves the U.S. unable to track a volatile and changing ocean.