Beyond individual tipping points, the scientific frontier shows risk of cascading interactions between tipping element systems where melting of the Greenland ice sheet releases cold fresh water slowing North Atlantic heat circulation, impacting monsoon patterns over the Amazon causing increased droughts and forest fires, which locks warm water in the southern ocean accelerating West Antarctic ice shelf melting.

causalpending

Speaker

Professor John Rockström

Evidence Quote

we are seeing the risk of interactions so-called cascades between tipping element systems... green ice sheet melts... slowing down the overturning of heat... impacting on the monsoon over the amazon... locks in warm water in the southern ocean accelerating... the melting of the west antarctic ice shelf

Source

10 New Insights in Climate Science | #COP26 | Climate actionUnited Nations
Created: 8/10/2026, 10:52:04 PM

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