Cold blob
The cold blob in the North Atlantic describes a cold temperature anomaly of ocean waters, affecting the Atlantic Meridional overturning circulation, likely related Greenland ice melt.
General
Climate scientists Michael Mann of Penn State and Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research suggest that this cold pattern during years of temperature records suggest that the Atlantic ocean’s Meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) may be weakening. AMOC is driven by ocean temperature and salinity differences.[1] They published their findings in a study, and concluded that the AMOC circulation shows exceptional slowdown in the last century, and that Greenland melt is a possible contributor.[2] The mechanism is based on the fact that freshwater decreases ocean water salinity, and through this process prevents colder waters sinking. Though, Tom Delworth of NOAA suggested that natural variability, which includes different modes, here namely the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation through wind driven ocean temperatures is also a large factor. A study by Jon Robson etal from the University of Reading, in 2014 concluded about the anomaly, “...suggest that a substantial change in the AMOC is unfolding now.”[1]
Measurements
Since 2004 the RAPID program monitors the ocean circulation.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Everything you need to know about the surprisingly cold 'blob' in the North Atlantic ocean". The Washington Post. 2015.
- ^ "Exceptional twentieth-century slowdown in Atlantic Ocean overturning circulation". Nature. doi:10.1038/nclimate2554.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ "Why some scientists are worried about a surprisingly cold 'blob' in the North Atlantic Ocean". The Washington Post. 2015.