Scientists Tie Atlantic Cold Blob to 1.8°F Cooling and a Weaker AMOC

3 articles · Updated · Smithsonian Magazine · Jun 30

A May 28 study tracing observations back to 1870 found the Atlantic “cold blob” south of Greenland and Iceland likely reflects changes in the AMOC, not just a local weather quirk.
Nearly 1.8°F of cooling in that patch since 1900 contrasts with roughly 1.8°F of global sea-surface warming, and researchers say the chill extends below the surface—evidence less warm water is arriving there.
Local winds and other atmospheric factors explained only a modest share of the anomaly, challenging a 2022 explanation that stronger westerlies were pulling heat from the ocean surface.
A weaker AMOC could raise sea levels along the U.S. East Coast, cool Europe and disrupt rainfall in parts of South America, Africa and India, while also affecting salinity, nutrients and marine ecosystems.

Sources

Smithsonian Magazine1d ago

Scientists Link Atlantic 'Cold Blob' to Changes in Crucial Ocean Current System (AMOC)

New Scientist12h ago

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The North Atlantic "Cold Blob" and the Weakening AMOC: Scientific Evidence, Projected Impacts, and Policy Imperatives

Overview

The North Atlantic's 'cold blob' is a region that has stayed cooler than the rest of the warming ocean, especially since the industrial era. This persistent cooling stands out and is now seen as a possible early warning sign for changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC is a system of ocean currents that moves warm, salty water from the tropics northward, where it cools, sinks, and flows back south in the deep ocean. This process is vital for regulating the global climate and has a strong influence on European temperatures.

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