Scientists Have Detected Something Deeply Alarming at the Bottom of the Ocean
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key deep-sea current system, is slowing down, causing cold waters from Greenland to pool in the North Atlantic and form a "cold blob" that contrasts with global warming trends.
- This cold blob disrupts atmospheric jet streams, contributing to extreme weather events in North America and Europe, and its potential collapse could trigger a climate tipping point by 2040 with severe regional weather changes.
- Researchers are divided on the cause of the AMOC's weakening, with some attributing it to atmospheric forces, while others, supported by ocean surface heat loss data since 1955, argue it is driven by changes in ocean currents.
- Deep-ocean buoy data confirm a significant slowdown in crucial Atlantic ocean currents, signaling a troubling trend with uncertain but potentially severe climate consequences.