Axios

A key element driving the Atlantic Ocean may dramatically slow down — and then turn off completely — during the next few decades, a new study finds.

Why it matters: The circulation, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), includes the Gulf Stream.

• Part of a "global conveyor belt" that moves water around the world, the AMOC helps to regulate everything from the rate of sea level rise on the East Coast to Europe's average temperatures.

Record-breaking, deadly heat in the U.S. and Europe would have been "virtually impossible" in a world without human-driven climate change, according to new data published early Tuesday.

Why it matters: The findings show society is more vulnerable than previously thought to relatively low levels of warming.

The heat wave roasting much of the U.S. for weeks is expanding its reach to the Great Basin, parts of the Rockies, and will eventually extend eastward across the Plains, Midwest and East Coast by the end of the week.

Why it matters: The longer this extreme heat event lasts, the greater the human and economic toll will be.

The University of South Florida said Monday its researchers have transported some 1,500 coral specimens to tanks on land as "unprecedented heat waves and escalating water temperatures" create "a massive coral bleaching event."

Why it matters: Coral reefs provide shelter for over 25% of ocean animals, and are economically key to over half a billion people's livelihoods.

Several states are piloting AI-powered systems to detect wildfires faster than traditional bystander reporting systems allow.

Why it matters: Wildfires are burning longer and more frequently because of climate change. Stopping them sooner could save lives and reduce massive costs.

A reelected Donald Trump could pull several levers to try and pare back federal policies aimed at speeding the transition to electric vehicles.

Why it matters: EVs are becoming more mainstream, but they're still a small share of U.S. car sales, and President Joe Biden has been keen to juice deployment.

Scientists are partnering with Google's philanthropic arm to create a first of its kind, near-real-time way to monitor thawing permafrost across the Arctic.

Why it matters: The Arctic is warming about three to four times faster than the rest of the world, causing areas of permanently-frozen soil to thaw. This could release huge quantities of planet-warming greenhouse gases.

Hot, dangerous conditions that parts of the West, Texas and Florida have endured for weeks will expand across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. this week — starting in the north-central states and Plains, the National Weather Service warns.

The big picture: Nearly 78 million people were under heat alerts in the U.S. Monday morning, as health officials report a spike in callouts and emergency department visits due to the extreme weather.

The UN's World Meteorological Organization says it's examining potential new temperature records from "intense heatwaves" that are sweeping the southern U.S., parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

Driving the news: "Climate change and temperature increase has spurred a surge in reports of record weather and climate extremes, especially for heat," per a WMO statement. The WMO warns the extreme heat is intensifying in some places and may last into August.