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Mysterious 'cold blob' discovered in Atlantic. Does it mean trouble?
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- Scientists have identified a "cold blob" in the North Atlantic that has cooled by up to 1°C over recent decades, linked to changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key ocean current system.
- The AMOC acts as a global ocean conveyor belt, distributing heat worldwide, and its slowdown could disrupt global weather patterns and marine ecosystems.
- The North Atlantic region south of Greenland has uniquely cooled despite global ocean warming, a phenomenon known as the North Atlantic Warming Hole or Cold Blob.
- Experts warn that the AMOC may weaken by at least 20% by 2100 and could potentially shut down, leading to significant climate impacts in Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe, and faster sea level rise along the U.S. East Coast.
- A past 30% AMOC slowdown between 2009 and 2010 was linked to an unprecedented sea level rise near New York City, highlighting the potential consequences of continued AMOC weakening.
