Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation weakening linked to North Atlantic cooling

A study suggests that the weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may be linked to a persistent 'cold blob' in the North Atlantic. This area, located south of Greenland and Iceland, has recorded a temperature drop of nearly one degree Celsius since 1900, even as global average temperatures rise.

The AMOC acts as a natural conveyor belt, transporting warm water from the tropics toward the north, where it cools, becomes denser, and sinks to the deep ocean. However, global warming is causing ice masses to melt, introducing significant amounts of freshwater into the North Atlantic. This change in salinity and temperature can disrupt the sinking process essential to the circulation system.

Climatologists warn that the AMOC could be closer to a critical tipping point than previously estimated. A significant slowdown or collapse of this system could lead to rapid sea-level rise along the eastern coast of the United States and cause drastic climate shifts in parts of Europe.