From sudden ice ages to ferocious superstorms, scientists have long warned of scary doomsday scenarios, and now some governments and experts have made moves to start preparing for the worst.

For example, dozens of climate scientists recently sent a letter to northern European leaders, warning of a major change in an Atlantic Ocean current due to human-caused climate change – one that could trigger abrupt shifts in weather patterns and damage ecosystems worldwide.

It’s yet another development in the longstanding concern over the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which has also served as fodder for the the “Day After Tomorrow” disaster movie (which took many liberties with the scientific consensus).

Doyle Rice

USA TODAY