Mysterious 'cold blob' discovered in Atlantic. Does it mean trouble?
A persistent cold patch south of Greenland and Iceland—cooling by up to 1°C since 1900—has scientists warning the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may be weakening faster than expected. The anomaly contradicts global ocean warming trends and could accelerate extreme weather in Europe. New data suggests this shift may hit mid-century, but consensus on timing and severity remains uncertain. Researchers stress unpreparedness for potential climate disruptions.
What changed
Latest studies confirm the cold blob’s link to AMOC slowdown, with warnings of a possible tipping point by mid-century and up to 10x faster climate changes in Europe than previously modeled.
Live updates
-
Atlantic 'cold blob' deepens fears of AMOC collapse and rapid climate shifts
confidence 93%A persistent cold patch south of Greenland and Iceland—cooling by up to 1°C since 1900—has scientists warning the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may be weakening faster than expected. The anomaly contradicts global ocean warming trends and could accelerate extreme weather in Europe. New data suggests this shift may hit mid-century, but consensus on timing and severity remains uncertain. Researchers stress unpreparedness for potential climate disruptions.
What's confirmed:
- A cold blob in the North Atlantic, south of Greenland and Iceland, has cooled by up to 1°C (1.8°F) over decades while global oceans warm, defying typical climate patterns.
- Scientists attribute the cooling to a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a critical current system transporting heat northward.
- The region is highly sensitive to AMOC changes, where surface cooling from slowdowns may outweigh greenhouse gas warming effects.
- Historical data since 1955 shows reduced warm water inflow to the North Atlantic, aligning with AMOC slowdown theories.
- An AMOC collapse could alter Europe’s climate up to 10 times faster than current projections, though exact timing remains uncertain.
- The cold blob’s persistence contrasts with El Niño-driven global ocean warming, reinforcing concerns about ocean current instability.
Still unconfirmed:
- The cold blob resembles scenarios depicted in climate disaster films like *The Day After Tomorrow*, though current findings are not as extreme.
- A potential climate tipping point could be triggered by mid-century, though no single study confirms this exact timeline.
- The AMOC’s collapse may have catastrophic worldwide consequences, but the precise global impacts are not yet quantified or universally agreed upon.