Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 10
North Atlantic Cold Blob Lingers for 1 Year as Oceans Warm Globally
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 10

North Atlantic Cold Blob Lingers for 1 Year as Oceans Warm Globally

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 10

Summary

  • A broad patch of well below-average sea temperatures east of Newfoundland has persisted for the past year, standing out as scientists track continued global ocean warming.
  • The anomaly is drawing concern because cooler-than-average conditions across such a large ocean area are becoming increasingly rare in a warming climate.
  • Its persistence is especially striking as an expected super El Niño is heating parts of the Pacific, underscoring the contrast between the North Atlantic and wider ocean trends.

Insights

As a super El Niño scorches the Pacific, what does the Atlantic's growing 'cold blob' warn about a potential climate system collapse?
A vital ocean current is failing. How soon could Europe face extreme winters and a meter of sea level rise from its collapse?