Atlantic 'cold blob' linked to weakening ocean current system nearing a tipping point, study finds

Published 12 hours ago • loading... • Updated 12 hours ago Show Less Icon Atlantic cold blob linked to weakening ocean current system nearing a tipping point, study finds Researchers found the cooling tracks reduced ocean heat transport, and the study says surface heat loss has not increased. Left Center Right Ground G Logo Light Bias Comparison Ground G Logo Bias Comparison A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in May links the North Atlantic cold blob to a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation , suggesting this major ocean system is slowing. Known as the cold blob or warming hole, this area of unusually cold water southeast of Greenland remains out of step with global trends, likely due to reduced heat transport from a weakening ocean conveyor. Freshwater from melting Greenland ice reduces water density, hindering the sinking process that keeps the AMOC moving, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes influences North Atlantic weather patterns. Researchers estimate that AMOC weakening accounts for 20 to 50 percent of the increase in flood days along the United States Northeast coast since 2005, with rising sea levels as a major concern. While the new study does not suggest an imminent AMOC collapse, researchers view the cold blob as a significant indicator of potential instability, as continued decline in Atlantic heat transport could disrupt future agricultural cycles. Insights by Ground AI Wrench Icon Does this summary seem wrong? Share menu 23 Articles 23 Articles All Left 7 Center 8 Right Search Icon Sort Icon Science Alert Center Factuality Ownership A Strange Cold Blob in The Atlantic Signals We re Almost at a Tipping Point There s a strange anomaly in the North Atlantic, just south of Greenland: A cold blob of ocean and air that s cooling down while the rest of the world warms up.